Sunday 7 February 2010, 3:10 PM
Linux Mint 8 KDE Community Edition
The final release of Linux Mint 8 (Helena) KDE Community Edition is available for download. I wrote about the Release Candidate of this a couple of weeks ago, so I won't add too much more now. I'm still more of a Gnome desktop user than KDE, but as KDE 4 gets better and better, and combined with the excellent integration with Linux Mint, this one is a real alternative for me.
The first thing to be aware of is that with KDE added on top of the Linux Mint distribution, the size of the Live Image is about 1.1Gb. Of course that's too large to fit on a CD, so we are talking about a LiveDVD here. That shouldn't be a problem these days, but it is worth knowing in advance.
For those who are not familiar with Linux Mint already, it is based on the latest Ubuntu distribution (9.10 in this case), with a lot of extremely useful and easy-to-use "Mint-utilites" added, and a lot of other additional packages and programs which make it a lot more useful "out of the box". For FOSS purists, be aware that the standard Mint distributions include various proprietary and non-FOSS software, but now they also have a "Universal Edition" which they describe as "without including proprietary software, patented technologies or support for restricted formats". (There is not a Universal Mint KDE edition that I know of, however).
There is a good "What's New" document that gives a lot of information about the new release. So, I am now in the process of downloading the image, burning it to a DVD, and installing it on some of my notebook/netbook/nettop systems. I will post again here when I have it running on a few systems. One thing I can already say, I like the graphical installer even better than the standard Mint (Ubuntu) installer. It may be that this is the same one used by Kubuntu, I haven't installed that in quite a long time so I don't know what it looks like any more. But this is nice, clean, easy to use and easy to understand.
Enjoy!
jw 7/2/2010
The first thing to be aware of is that with KDE added on top of the Linux Mint distribution, the size of the Live Image is about 1.1Gb. Of course that's too large to fit on a CD, so we are talking about a LiveDVD here. That shouldn't be a problem these days, but it is worth knowing in advance.
For those who are not familiar with Linux Mint already, it is based on the latest Ubuntu distribution (9.10 in this case), with a lot of extremely useful and easy-to-use "Mint-utilites" added, and a lot of other additional packages and programs which make it a lot more useful "out of the box". For FOSS purists, be aware that the standard Mint distributions include various proprietary and non-FOSS software, but now they also have a "Universal Edition" which they describe as "without including proprietary software, patented technologies or support for restricted formats". (There is not a Universal Mint KDE edition that I know of, however).
There is a good "What's New" document that gives a lot of information about the new release. So, I am now in the process of downloading the image, burning it to a DVD, and installing it on some of my notebook/netbook/nettop systems. I will post again here when I have it running on a few systems. One thing I can already say, I like the graphical installer even better than the standard Mint (Ubuntu) installer. It may be that this is the same one used by Kubuntu, I haven't installed that in quite a long time so I don't know what it looks like any more. But this is nice, clean, easy to use and easy to understand.
Enjoy!
jw 7/2/2010
Friday 5 February 2010, 5:59 PM
Toshiba's new business notebooks, with Reel Time documents
It's hard to tell Toshiba's new Tecra and Satellite Pro models apart; that's actually quite deliberate.
This is the Tecra S11...
...can you tell the difference from this Satellite Pro S500?
It's not just that Toshiba's proud of the new design, with its textured black surface that's rugged, scratch resistant, doesn't show every fingerprint - and doesn't slip out of your hand when you're carrying it. But keeping the look across the different ranges also minimises arguments in the office over whether my new laptop is obviously better than yours, Toshiba general manager Thomas Teckentrup pointed out to us.
That could actually work, because the different models look very similar. Confusingly so, in fact; the main difference between the 15.6" Tecra S11 and the 15.6" Satellite Pro S500 is that the Tecra comes with the choice of Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, optional discrete graphics (Nvidia GeForce) and 128GB SSD where the Satellite has Core i3 or Core i5 and a spinning hard drive. The Tecra also has a fingerprint reader and the option of a non-glossy screen, which is welcome if you ever work anywhere near a window. Other similar Tecra models come with a 15.9" screen as the A11 or a 14" screen as the M11. (there's a new Core i5 version of Toshiba's convertible 12" tablet PC, updated as the Portégé M780, though it doesn't have the same design or other specs as the Tecra models).
Like most workhouse business notebooks these days the Tecra and Satellite Pro notebooks have ESATA, mini DisplayPort and a spill-resistant keyboard. Less common is the extra-large touchpad and numeric keypad - and the option of replacing the numeric keyboard with an AccuPoint trackpoint. Some users prefer the fine control, says Teckentrup; and others want to be able to hold the laptop vertically and control the screen (although we wonder if touch might not be a better option for that).
IT admins will appreciate the AMT 6.0 support in the new models, which lets you wake the PC and repair Windows or remove a virus, even if the OS isn't bootable. AMT 6 adds anti-theft support; Toshiba is supporting services like Computrace in the BIOS, so even if someone replaces the hard drive in a stolen laptop the Computrace agent will be re-installed and start reporting its position. (Previously only US models of Toshiba notebooks have had the BIOS support). With a Computrace subscription you can find, lock or wipe stolen notebooks and Teckentrup points out that the deterrent value can be worth the price of the service; "thinking about theft internally in companies - if people know this is an implemented solution, there is no interest any more in stealing them".
See your document history in Reel Time
These new models are also the first of Toshiba's business notebooks to come with its LifeSpace software; already available on Toshiba's consumer notebooks, this takes Windows 7 features like jump lists and thumbnail previews and adds them to friendly tools for organising projects and documents. The Bulletin Boards let you bring together all the documents you use in a particular project with widgets like a clock and calendar as if you were pinning them up on a board; there's also a board that brings together all Toshiba's support and diagnostic tools, though you can't add program icons to your own boards.
Interfaces that try to be too much like the physical world don’t always work and you wouldn't want to get at all your documents like this but a Board is a nice way to organise specific groups of documents that you need to use together. If you miss the Office binder, you'll like this. And the Reel Time tool that comes with it is extremely useful. This gives you a timeline of documents you've opened and Web pages you've visited, organised by the type of document, the specific apps you've opened or the times and days you opened them. Windows 7 already does some of this with the recent documents on jump lists, but Reel Time gives you thumbnails that you can click to get previews where you can scroll through the pages (like Explorer but without you having to find the right folder). You can quickly get back to the PDF and PowerPoint you were looking at on Friday evening before you went home, which means you don’t have to leave documents and Web pages open just so you can remember what you were doing.
Mary Branscombe
This is the Tecra S11...
...can you tell the difference from this Satellite Pro S500?
It's not just that Toshiba's proud of the new design, with its textured black surface that's rugged, scratch resistant, doesn't show every fingerprint - and doesn't slip out of your hand when you're carrying it. But keeping the look across the different ranges also minimises arguments in the office over whether my new laptop is obviously better than yours, Toshiba general manager Thomas Teckentrup pointed out to us.
That could actually work, because the different models look very similar. Confusingly so, in fact; the main difference between the 15.6" Tecra S11 and the 15.6" Satellite Pro S500 is that the Tecra comes with the choice of Core i3, i5 and i7 processors, optional discrete graphics (Nvidia GeForce) and 128GB SSD where the Satellite has Core i3 or Core i5 and a spinning hard drive. The Tecra also has a fingerprint reader and the option of a non-glossy screen, which is welcome if you ever work anywhere near a window. Other similar Tecra models come with a 15.9" screen as the A11 or a 14" screen as the M11. (there's a new Core i5 version of Toshiba's convertible 12" tablet PC, updated as the Portégé M780, though it doesn't have the same design or other specs as the Tecra models).
Like most workhouse business notebooks these days the Tecra and Satellite Pro notebooks have ESATA, mini DisplayPort and a spill-resistant keyboard. Less common is the extra-large touchpad and numeric keypad - and the option of replacing the numeric keyboard with an AccuPoint trackpoint. Some users prefer the fine control, says Teckentrup; and others want to be able to hold the laptop vertically and control the screen (although we wonder if touch might not be a better option for that).
IT admins will appreciate the AMT 6.0 support in the new models, which lets you wake the PC and repair Windows or remove a virus, even if the OS isn't bootable. AMT 6 adds anti-theft support; Toshiba is supporting services like Computrace in the BIOS, so even if someone replaces the hard drive in a stolen laptop the Computrace agent will be re-installed and start reporting its position. (Previously only US models of Toshiba notebooks have had the BIOS support). With a Computrace subscription you can find, lock or wipe stolen notebooks and Teckentrup points out that the deterrent value can be worth the price of the service; "thinking about theft internally in companies - if people know this is an implemented solution, there is no interest any more in stealing them".
See your document history in Reel Time
These new models are also the first of Toshiba's business notebooks to come with its LifeSpace software; already available on Toshiba's consumer notebooks, this takes Windows 7 features like jump lists and thumbnail previews and adds them to friendly tools for organising projects and documents. The Bulletin Boards let you bring together all the documents you use in a particular project with widgets like a clock and calendar as if you were pinning them up on a board; there's also a board that brings together all Toshiba's support and diagnostic tools, though you can't add program icons to your own boards.
Interfaces that try to be too much like the physical world don’t always work and you wouldn't want to get at all your documents like this but a Board is a nice way to organise specific groups of documents that you need to use together. If you miss the Office binder, you'll like this. And the Reel Time tool that comes with it is extremely useful. This gives you a timeline of documents you've opened and Web pages you've visited, organised by the type of document, the specific apps you've opened or the times and days you opened them. Windows 7 already does some of this with the recent documents on jump lists, but Reel Time gives you thumbnails that you can click to get previews where you can scroll through the pages (like Explorer but without you having to find the right folder). You can quickly get back to the PDF and PowerPoint you were looking at on Friday evening before you went home, which means you don’t have to leave documents and Web pages open just so you can remember what you were doing.
Mary Branscombe
Thursday 4 February 2010, 4:04 PM
Virtual essentials for 2010
Designed for companies with up to 500 users, System Center Essentials (SCE) takes Microsoft’s enterprise management tools and makes them accessible to small to mid-size organisations via a single, easy to use, integrated console. It can be used to monitor Windows server availability and automatically identify and fix problems. It also enables network managers to collect hardware and software inventories (of both servers and PCs), centrally control the distribution of new applications and updates, plus remotely troubleshoot problems - all from the one interface.
All well and good, but the current version – System Center Essentials 2007 – was released long before virtualisation became popular. So now there’s a new release – System Center Essentials 2010 – incorporating the best bits from System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) to enable small companies to manage virtual as well as physical systems, side by side.
Due for launch later this year, SCE 2010 sports a revised console layout to both make it easier to use and accommodate the raft of new features. Not least of which is support for both Virtual Server and the latest Hyper-V implementation including live migration of virtual machines between Hyper-V hosts. The limit on the number of servers is also raised, from 30 up to 50, and the management packs needed to understand Microsoft applications, bundled with the product.
There are plenty of tweaks to the other tools too, as we’ve been finding out courtesy of the release candidate which put in an appearance at the start of the year.
Look out for a full review shortly.
Alan Stevens
All well and good, but the current version – System Center Essentials 2007 – was released long before virtualisation became popular. So now there’s a new release – System Center Essentials 2010 – incorporating the best bits from System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) to enable small companies to manage virtual as well as physical systems, side by side.
Due for launch later this year, SCE 2010 sports a revised console layout to both make it easier to use and accommodate the raft of new features. Not least of which is support for both Virtual Server and the latest Hyper-V implementation including live migration of virtual machines between Hyper-V hosts. The limit on the number of servers is also raised, from 30 up to 50, and the management packs needed to understand Microsoft applications, bundled with the product.
There are plenty of tweaks to the other tools too, as we’ve been finding out courtesy of the release candidate which put in an appearance at the start of the year.
Look out for a full review shortly.
Alan Stevens
Wednesday 27 January 2010, 3:15 PM
Powermat - wireless charging for your mobile kit
Here’s something that immediately captures the imagination. A device that can charge your phone without wires!
The Powermat uses magnetic induction to do this. I’ve tried it, and it works.
You’ll need a minimum of two bits of kit. First, the Powermat itself. This comes in a couple of designs. I tried a portable mat that is comprised of three sections so you can fold it up and carry it around with you. There is also a flat, somewhat more stylish Powermat for more permanent desktop use.
Second, the ‘receiver’. This is what connects your mobile device to the Powermat. There are currently receivers available for Apple devices, BlackBerry devices and Nintendo DS as well as a generic Universal Powercube Receiver which can cope with mini-USB, micro-USB, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Nintendo DS lite/DSi and Sony PSP.
So, if you’ve an iPhone and a PSP you’ll need two receivers.
The portable Powermat costs £79.99, the desktop one £69.99. The receivers vary in price, with the BlackBerry ones costing £29.99, the Apple options £34.99 and the Universal Powercube Receiver £29.99.
It isn't just a simple case of one receiver for BlackBerry users and another for Apple device owners, though. If you’ve more than one flavour of BlackBerry you’ll need a more than one receiver, because the receivers are replacement battery covers and so differ in size along with the chassis of each BlackBerry. iPhone and iPod Touch owners will need two receivers because in this case they are complete chassis covers and so again differently sized. Unless, that is, you opt for an upright dock which can cater for both Apple products and anything else that uses the standard Apple power connector.
The point is, you could be looking at a fair old outlay to get your wireless charging setup organised.
And by the way, it isn’t wireless.
The Powermat needs to draw power from somewhere, and that somewhere is the mains. So it plugs in via an ordinary three-pin plug. But there are no wires between the mat and the device you are charging. Well, except when you are using the Uinversal Powercube Receiver which connects one of its interchangeable tips to your device by cable.
I’ve been using the Powermat to charge an iPhone and an HTC Hero regularly, as well as various other products that have crossed my path over the last few weeks. It works, and it works well. It takes about the same time to charge devices as a direct mains connection does.
There is a ‘green’ element in that you are only using one mains outlet to charge up to three devices and you can even add in a fourth charged by USB via a socket in the back of the Powermat – if you have a USB cable to hand.
But it isn’t entirely wire free, it is expensive, and, to be honest, the Powermats themselves aren’t the nicest things to look at. Add in that devices already come with the ability to charge them and I feel that the Powermat is a really nice concept, but probably not excessively practical.
The Powermat uses magnetic induction to do this. I’ve tried it, and it works.
You’ll need a minimum of two bits of kit. First, the Powermat itself. This comes in a couple of designs. I tried a portable mat that is comprised of three sections so you can fold it up and carry it around with you. There is also a flat, somewhat more stylish Powermat for more permanent desktop use.
Second, the ‘receiver’. This is what connects your mobile device to the Powermat. There are currently receivers available for Apple devices, BlackBerry devices and Nintendo DS as well as a generic Universal Powercube Receiver which can cope with mini-USB, micro-USB, Samsung, LG, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Nintendo DS lite/DSi and Sony PSP.
So, if you’ve an iPhone and a PSP you’ll need two receivers.
The portable Powermat costs £79.99, the desktop one £69.99. The receivers vary in price, with the BlackBerry ones costing £29.99, the Apple options £34.99 and the Universal Powercube Receiver £29.99.
It isn't just a simple case of one receiver for BlackBerry users and another for Apple device owners, though. If you’ve more than one flavour of BlackBerry you’ll need a more than one receiver, because the receivers are replacement battery covers and so differ in size along with the chassis of each BlackBerry. iPhone and iPod Touch owners will need two receivers because in this case they are complete chassis covers and so again differently sized. Unless, that is, you opt for an upright dock which can cater for both Apple products and anything else that uses the standard Apple power connector.
The point is, you could be looking at a fair old outlay to get your wireless charging setup organised.
And by the way, it isn’t wireless.
The Powermat needs to draw power from somewhere, and that somewhere is the mains. So it plugs in via an ordinary three-pin plug. But there are no wires between the mat and the device you are charging. Well, except when you are using the Uinversal Powercube Receiver which connects one of its interchangeable tips to your device by cable.
I’ve been using the Powermat to charge an iPhone and an HTC Hero regularly, as well as various other products that have crossed my path over the last few weeks. It works, and it works well. It takes about the same time to charge devices as a direct mains connection does.
There is a ‘green’ element in that you are only using one mains outlet to charge up to three devices and you can even add in a fourth charged by USB via a socket in the back of the Powermat – if you have a USB cable to hand.
But it isn’t entirely wire free, it is expensive, and, to be honest, the Powermats themselves aren’t the nicest things to look at. Add in that devices already come with the ability to charge them and I feel that the Powermat is a really nice concept, but probably not excessively practical.
Wednesday 20 January 2010, 9:39 AM
Fujitsu Lifebook T4410
Convertible Tablet PCs have never really taken off in a business context, and they are far from ubiquitous. But Fujitsu has been committed to the format for many years, and its regularly refreshed range includes a number of models. The T4410 is a new Lifebook convertible Tablet PC.
It is quite a hefty beast at 1.79kg. As is often the case with convertible Tablet PCs I have to wonder how viable it is to expect anyone to hold the Lifebook T4410 in the crook of an arm for an extended period. I certainly wouldn’t like to have to do so.
The overall dimensions are a little on the chunky side too at 297mm x 233mm x 36.4mm. The chassis seems very robust, though, so anyone intending to carry this notebook around in a bag ought to find it survives the inevitable knocks.
Its screen is finger touch responsive as well as responsive to a stylus, the latter of course necessary for handwriting recognition, the former perfectly adequate for working with bespoke picklist type applications as well as for running applications, scrolling through Web pages and similar activities.
On-screen finger flicks allow for left, right, up and down movements and there is pinch to zoom support too. These features work wonderfully well when Web browsing, though you must cater for some greasy fingermarks on the screen if you intend to use these methods.
The keyboard is comfortable to use, with almost no flex and a decent return on the keys. The notebook benefits from an optional webcam and optional 3G as well as Wi-Fi and Bluteooth. Its screen brightness can be set to adjust automatically thanks to the ambient light sensor.
The Lifebook T4410 comes in various iterations. Hard drives run from a 64GB SSD up to a 320GB 5400rpm mechanical drive, processor options are Intel’s Core 2 Duo T9600, P8800 and P8700, and there is a modular bay which can accommodate any of a second battery, second hard disk, optical drive or a weight saver.
Initial impressions suggest this is a nice machine. I look forward to giving it a more thorough road test.
Sandra Vogel
It is quite a hefty beast at 1.79kg. As is often the case with convertible Tablet PCs I have to wonder how viable it is to expect anyone to hold the Lifebook T4410 in the crook of an arm for an extended period. I certainly wouldn’t like to have to do so.
The overall dimensions are a little on the chunky side too at 297mm x 233mm x 36.4mm. The chassis seems very robust, though, so anyone intending to carry this notebook around in a bag ought to find it survives the inevitable knocks.
Its screen is finger touch responsive as well as responsive to a stylus, the latter of course necessary for handwriting recognition, the former perfectly adequate for working with bespoke picklist type applications as well as for running applications, scrolling through Web pages and similar activities.
On-screen finger flicks allow for left, right, up and down movements and there is pinch to zoom support too. These features work wonderfully well when Web browsing, though you must cater for some greasy fingermarks on the screen if you intend to use these methods.
The keyboard is comfortable to use, with almost no flex and a decent return on the keys. The notebook benefits from an optional webcam and optional 3G as well as Wi-Fi and Bluteooth. Its screen brightness can be set to adjust automatically thanks to the ambient light sensor.
The Lifebook T4410 comes in various iterations. Hard drives run from a 64GB SSD up to a 320GB 5400rpm mechanical drive, processor options are Intel’s Core 2 Duo T9600, P8800 and P8700, and there is a modular bay which can accommodate any of a second battery, second hard disk, optical drive or a weight saver.
Initial impressions suggest this is a nice machine. I look forward to giving it a more thorough road test.
Sandra Vogel
Tuesday 19 January 2010, 8:41 AM
Sony Vaio X
We use images here at ZDNet to help you get a feel for what we are talking about. There’s nothing revolutionary about that. But there are times when a picture just doesn’t cut it. Take this, for example
Just another Sony Vaio notebook, right?
Well, not really. It is the Sony Vaio X, and the picture can in no way give you an understanding of its dimensions in the hand. So instead you will have to imagine a notebook that measures 278mm x 185mm x 13.9mm and weighs 780g.
The carbon fibre and aluminium casing is fabulous to look at, the chicket keyboard really can be touch-typed on at normal speed – at least with my small hands I was able to achieve that, and the screen, an 11.1-inch LCD, delivers its 1366 x 768 pixels superbly.
I’m not one for hyperbole, but this has to be one of the most stunning portable computers I have ever seen.
There is support for mobile broadband in the shape of a SIM slot underneath the battery and the Vaio X comes with either 256GB or 128GB of SSD hard drive, and separate slots for Memory Stick and SD and compatible cards.
So far, it all seems very exciting. But if you covet the Vaio X you’ll need to know that prices start at £1,239. Which is a heck of a lot of cash, and you aren’t going to get a powerhouse of a computer for your money.
Depending on which model you choose the Vaio X runs an Intel Atom Z540 or Z550 processor making it more comparable with netbooks than notebooks, though Sony steers well clear of the word ‘netbook’ and puts in 2GB of RAM to help it move along more swiftly than other netbooks.
The sides have space for two USB ports, Ethernet, VGA-out and a headphones connector, but no more. There is a 0.3 megapixel webcam. The operating system is Windows 7 Professional. There is no optical drive.
The upshot is a fantastic looking computer that is light and has a super keyboard, but whose capabilities are on a par with top-end netbooks. Which makes it a very expensive choice indeed.
More information here.
Just another Sony Vaio notebook, right?
Well, not really. It is the Sony Vaio X, and the picture can in no way give you an understanding of its dimensions in the hand. So instead you will have to imagine a notebook that measures 278mm x 185mm x 13.9mm and weighs 780g.
The carbon fibre and aluminium casing is fabulous to look at, the chicket keyboard really can be touch-typed on at normal speed – at least with my small hands I was able to achieve that, and the screen, an 11.1-inch LCD, delivers its 1366 x 768 pixels superbly.
I’m not one for hyperbole, but this has to be one of the most stunning portable computers I have ever seen.
There is support for mobile broadband in the shape of a SIM slot underneath the battery and the Vaio X comes with either 256GB or 128GB of SSD hard drive, and separate slots for Memory Stick and SD and compatible cards.
So far, it all seems very exciting. But if you covet the Vaio X you’ll need to know that prices start at £1,239. Which is a heck of a lot of cash, and you aren’t going to get a powerhouse of a computer for your money.
Depending on which model you choose the Vaio X runs an Intel Atom Z540 or Z550 processor making it more comparable with netbooks than notebooks, though Sony steers well clear of the word ‘netbook’ and puts in 2GB of RAM to help it move along more swiftly than other netbooks.
The sides have space for two USB ports, Ethernet, VGA-out and a headphones connector, but no more. There is a 0.3 megapixel webcam. The operating system is Windows 7 Professional. There is no optical drive.
The upshot is a fantastic looking computer that is light and has a super keyboard, but whose capabilities are on a par with top-end netbooks. Which makes it a very expensive choice indeed.
More information here.
Friday 15 January 2010, 2:21 PM
New chassis for Dell rack server
Rack-mount servers are a great invention but, by their very nature, suffer from a lack of space. Even with the advent of 2.5in disks they’re still limited when it comes to internal storage - a problem Dell is looking to address on its PowerEdge R510 with the introduction of new chassis that shoe-horns twelve hard disks into a 2U slot.
The thinking here is easy enough to understand. In corporate data centres, storage isn’t an issue as rack servers are routinely attached to external or SAN storage. Smaller companies, however, may not be able to afford such luxuries. Likewise when it comes to branch office networks, external storage may be considered too expensive and/or too complex to deploy.
For such customers the PowerEdge R510 with its dual Xeon 5500 processors is an ideal buy, especially with the addition of the 12-bay chassis to the existing 4-bay and 8-bay models. Disks can be either 3.5inch or 2.5inch, there’s the usual choice of SATA or SAS technologies, disks can be hot swapped and the drive bays all at the front in three rows of four. Unfortunately there’s no room left for a CD/DVD drive, but that’s unlikely to be a major issue. Neither will cost. Prices have yet to be announced but the new chassis is unlikely to have a major impact on the bottom line.
Alan Stevens
The thinking here is easy enough to understand. In corporate data centres, storage isn’t an issue as rack servers are routinely attached to external or SAN storage. Smaller companies, however, may not be able to afford such luxuries. Likewise when it comes to branch office networks, external storage may be considered too expensive and/or too complex to deploy.
For such customers the PowerEdge R510 with its dual Xeon 5500 processors is an ideal buy, especially with the addition of the 12-bay chassis to the existing 4-bay and 8-bay models. Disks can be either 3.5inch or 2.5inch, there’s the usual choice of SATA or SAS technologies, disks can be hot swapped and the drive bays all at the front in three rows of four. Unfortunately there’s no room left for a CD/DVD drive, but that’s unlikely to be a major issue. Neither will cost. Prices have yet to be announced but the new chassis is unlikely to have a major impact on the bottom line.
Alan Stevens
Thursday 14 January 2010, 8:56 AM
iPhone now available on Vodafone
Today the iPhone 3G S goes on sale via Vodafone. This means that it is now available from four sources – the original O2 plus Orange, Vodafone and Tesco Mobile (which runs on O2’s network).
Vodafone has sent me one of their iPhones, and the only distinguishing feature it has from my O2 version is the large range of apps which have been pre-installed for me to play with. End users won’t get that little extra, and so the only bases on which to make the decision of where or not to get your iPhone from Vodafone are network coverage, tariff and personal choice of operator.
If you are entirely operator agnostic, then price is your guide, and it is a complex matter to work out what the most cost effective option is for you.
A quick scout around operator Web sites this morning reveals some information, but not everything you need is available in easily comparable form. You’ll need to look for special deals, compare contract lengths and allowances on contract, and take into account fair usage policies and other factors to work out what is best for you.
A few minutes online this morning reveals the following, but I’m not promising I have not missed something significant in my mini-trawl.
Vodafone
Vodafone has the iPhone 3G available for free on Pay Monthly plans of £35 a month and above and is highlighting 24 month contracts at its Web site. The 16GB iPhone 3G S is available free on 24 month contracts from £45. You can pay as little as £30 a month and up to £180 for the handset. Choose the 32GB iPhone 3G S and it is free on 24 month contracts from £75, £80 if you want an 18 month contract. Vodafone is not offering a pay as you go option.
Orange
Orange is selling the iPhone 3G S and the pervious model the iPhone 3G. Both Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go options are available. Contracts range from £30 to £125 a month. There’s no contract less than 18 months listed and the handset is free in all cases. On Pay As You Go the iPhone 3G S 16GB costs £440 (£430 if you start with a £50 top up), the 32GB costs £539 (£529 if you start with a £50 top up).
O2
The 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3G S and the iPhone 3G are available on both Pay Monthly and Pay and Go. Pay Monthly contracts for the iPhone 3G s include unlimited visual voicemail, unlimited data and unlimited Wi-Fi Bolt-ons. Contracts run from £35 a month to £75 a month. There are a few options on which the iPhone 3G S is free, but you can pay up to £279 for it. On Pay and Go the handset will cost you £499 for the 16GB version and £549 for the 32GB one.
Tesco Mobile
Tesco also has all three flavours of the iPhone available, and online is offering the older iPhone 3G for £342 as a pay as you go handset with SIM. It wants £440 for the 16GB iPhone 3G S on pay as you go and £538 for the 32GB iPhone 3G S on pay as you go. There’s nothing about pay monthly tariffs on the Web, though if you phone you ought to find contract prices are on offer.
If you want to mooch the Web sites yourself here are the links
Vodafone
Orange
O2
Tesco Mobile
Happy hunting!
Vodafone has sent me one of their iPhones, and the only distinguishing feature it has from my O2 version is the large range of apps which have been pre-installed for me to play with. End users won’t get that little extra, and so the only bases on which to make the decision of where or not to get your iPhone from Vodafone are network coverage, tariff and personal choice of operator.
If you are entirely operator agnostic, then price is your guide, and it is a complex matter to work out what the most cost effective option is for you.
A quick scout around operator Web sites this morning reveals some information, but not everything you need is available in easily comparable form. You’ll need to look for special deals, compare contract lengths and allowances on contract, and take into account fair usage policies and other factors to work out what is best for you.
A few minutes online this morning reveals the following, but I’m not promising I have not missed something significant in my mini-trawl.
Vodafone
Vodafone has the iPhone 3G available for free on Pay Monthly plans of £35 a month and above and is highlighting 24 month contracts at its Web site. The 16GB iPhone 3G S is available free on 24 month contracts from £45. You can pay as little as £30 a month and up to £180 for the handset. Choose the 32GB iPhone 3G S and it is free on 24 month contracts from £75, £80 if you want an 18 month contract. Vodafone is not offering a pay as you go option.
Orange
Orange is selling the iPhone 3G S and the pervious model the iPhone 3G. Both Pay Monthly and Pay As You Go options are available. Contracts range from £30 to £125 a month. There’s no contract less than 18 months listed and the handset is free in all cases. On Pay As You Go the iPhone 3G S 16GB costs £440 (£430 if you start with a £50 top up), the 32GB costs £539 (£529 if you start with a £50 top up).
O2
The 16GB and 32GB iPhone 3G S and the iPhone 3G are available on both Pay Monthly and Pay and Go. Pay Monthly contracts for the iPhone 3G s include unlimited visual voicemail, unlimited data and unlimited Wi-Fi Bolt-ons. Contracts run from £35 a month to £75 a month. There are a few options on which the iPhone 3G S is free, but you can pay up to £279 for it. On Pay and Go the handset will cost you £499 for the 16GB version and £549 for the 32GB one.
Tesco Mobile
Tesco also has all three flavours of the iPhone available, and online is offering the older iPhone 3G for £342 as a pay as you go handset with SIM. It wants £440 for the 16GB iPhone 3G S on pay as you go and £538 for the 32GB iPhone 3G S on pay as you go. There’s nothing about pay monthly tariffs on the Web, though if you phone you ought to find contract prices are on offer.
If you want to mooch the Web sites yourself here are the links
Vodafone
Orange
O2
Tesco Mobile
Happy hunting!
Wednesday 13 January 2010, 8:52 PM
Update on the HP Pavillion dm1-1020ez
Here is a bit more information from my use of the dm1 today:
- It boots Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 (Karmic) from a cold start to the UNR desktop in just under 30 seconds. The Atom (N270) based ASUS N10J takes just over 45 seconds for the same boot.
- The Broadcom STA (wl) wireless drivers work just fine in Ubuntu and Mandriva. The b43 drivers do not work in either openSuSE or Ubuntu.
- Battery life: I've been using it for over two hours on batteries, pretty hard use doing a lot of reboots, updates and configuration, basically no idle time, and the battery monitor still says over 50% remaining.
- I can't get Fedora 12 to boot on it. I even dug out the USB DVD drive that came with the HP dv2 notebook, in case there was something strange about the timing, but it always hangs at about 7/8 through the boot, according to the on-screen progress indicator.
Good stuff.
jw 13/1/2010
- It boots Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.10 (Karmic) from a cold start to the UNR desktop in just under 30 seconds. The Atom (N270) based ASUS N10J takes just over 45 seconds for the same boot.
- The Broadcom STA (wl) wireless drivers work just fine in Ubuntu and Mandriva. The b43 drivers do not work in either openSuSE or Ubuntu.
- Battery life: I've been using it for over two hours on batteries, pretty hard use doing a lot of reboots, updates and configuration, basically no idle time, and the battery monitor still says over 50% remaining.
- I can't get Fedora 12 to boot on it. I even dug out the USB DVD drive that came with the HP dv2 notebook, in case there was something strange about the timing, but it always hangs at about 7/8 through the boot, according to the on-screen progress indicator.
Good stuff.
jw 13/1/2010
Wednesday 13 January 2010, 4:15 PM
Nokia Booklet 3G
Nokia’s newest category of device is the mini laptop. It isn’t groundbreaking, it doesn’t do anything that has not been done before, yet it comes in at a hefty price. In the absence of network operator reductions Nokia must be hoping that its name and some striking build credentials are enough to sell the Booklet 3G.
The largely aluminium chassis, built, Apple style, from a single sheet of the metal, is about as pleasing to look at as a notebook chassis gets. It is tough too. But it really does need a protective case of some kind, if only to guard the shiny plastic outer part of the lid section against scratches. And Nokia does not provide one. Churlish, maybe, given the price – which I will reveal later.
At 264mm x 185mm x 19.9mm and 1.2Kg it is quite small and light. The fanless design is also welcome. In a quiet space you can hear the hard drive kicking in periodically, but apart from that no sound at all comes from the Booklet 3G unless it is something emanating from the speakers or the tap, tap, tap of fingertips on keys. Bizarrely I actually found the hard drive’s ‘clicks’ a bit irritating.
These small format devices often exhibit compromises on the usability front. The 10.1-inch screen has a glass fascia which is quite irritatingly reflective in some circumstances and it lacks vibrancy. It does the job, but is not a top-notch offering. The 1280 x 720 pixels are something of a lure, though.
By contrast I found the chiclet keyboard to be very well designed. Despite that there is a relatively small space available to it I was able to touch type at pretty much normal speed – which is quite an endorsement for a computer of the Booklet 3G’s small frame. The touchpad, too was comfy to use, and it supports multitouch. At times when I found the screen a bit cramped to view, a quick pinch-to-zoom worked wonders.
The specifications are netbook through and through. The processor is Intel’s Atom Z530. There is 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive. Wi-Fi is built in, and this includes support for 802.11n as well as b and g. There’s no Ethernet but there is a modem for data calls (it is not possible to make voice calls).
The operating system is Windows 7 Starter Edition. When given a lot to do, such as having several application windows opened at once, the Booklet 3G struggled a little. And – importantly for multimedia fans, Windows 7 Starter Edition lacks the Windows Media Centre, so you’ll have to find third party apps. Easily done, but not in an ‘out of the box’ way.
There are three USB connectors, an HDMI port, 3.5mm headset slot and a slot for SD and compatible cards. The SIM fits in a side-mounted slot next to the SD card reader, and both share the same protective, hinged cover. GPS is built in, and Ovi Maps should be pre-installed, though it wasn’t on my sample.
A 1.3 megapixel camera sits above the screen, and there are stereo speakers sitting on the front of the left and right edges of the chassis. Nokia’s other software extra, the Nokia Social Hub shows Facebook and Twitter updates and lets you send SMS messages.
Nokia claims 12 hours battery life for the Booklet 3G. On the basis of a couple of days experimenting I’d suggest the most you are likely to get in the real world is in the vicinity of 7 to 8 hours.
And now, the price.
The Booklet 3G is available from the Nokia online store at £649.00 inc VAT.
That’s an absolutely exorbitant price for what is, basically, a netbook. The chassis design, long battery life and built in 3G data are plusses, but not enough to justify the price tag. Nokia must be hoping a network operator picks this one up soon and offers it for a hefty subsidy.
Sandra Vogel
The largely aluminium chassis, built, Apple style, from a single sheet of the metal, is about as pleasing to look at as a notebook chassis gets. It is tough too. But it really does need a protective case of some kind, if only to guard the shiny plastic outer part of the lid section against scratches. And Nokia does not provide one. Churlish, maybe, given the price – which I will reveal later.
At 264mm x 185mm x 19.9mm and 1.2Kg it is quite small and light. The fanless design is also welcome. In a quiet space you can hear the hard drive kicking in periodically, but apart from that no sound at all comes from the Booklet 3G unless it is something emanating from the speakers or the tap, tap, tap of fingertips on keys. Bizarrely I actually found the hard drive’s ‘clicks’ a bit irritating.
These small format devices often exhibit compromises on the usability front. The 10.1-inch screen has a glass fascia which is quite irritatingly reflective in some circumstances and it lacks vibrancy. It does the job, but is not a top-notch offering. The 1280 x 720 pixels are something of a lure, though.
By contrast I found the chiclet keyboard to be very well designed. Despite that there is a relatively small space available to it I was able to touch type at pretty much normal speed – which is quite an endorsement for a computer of the Booklet 3G’s small frame. The touchpad, too was comfy to use, and it supports multitouch. At times when I found the screen a bit cramped to view, a quick pinch-to-zoom worked wonders.
The specifications are netbook through and through. The processor is Intel’s Atom Z530. There is 1GB of RAM and a 120GB hard drive. Wi-Fi is built in, and this includes support for 802.11n as well as b and g. There’s no Ethernet but there is a modem for data calls (it is not possible to make voice calls).
The operating system is Windows 7 Starter Edition. When given a lot to do, such as having several application windows opened at once, the Booklet 3G struggled a little. And – importantly for multimedia fans, Windows 7 Starter Edition lacks the Windows Media Centre, so you’ll have to find third party apps. Easily done, but not in an ‘out of the box’ way.
There are three USB connectors, an HDMI port, 3.5mm headset slot and a slot for SD and compatible cards. The SIM fits in a side-mounted slot next to the SD card reader, and both share the same protective, hinged cover. GPS is built in, and Ovi Maps should be pre-installed, though it wasn’t on my sample.
A 1.3 megapixel camera sits above the screen, and there are stereo speakers sitting on the front of the left and right edges of the chassis. Nokia’s other software extra, the Nokia Social Hub shows Facebook and Twitter updates and lets you send SMS messages.
Nokia claims 12 hours battery life for the Booklet 3G. On the basis of a couple of days experimenting I’d suggest the most you are likely to get in the real world is in the vicinity of 7 to 8 hours.
And now, the price.
The Booklet 3G is available from the Nokia online store at £649.00 inc VAT.
That’s an absolutely exorbitant price for what is, basically, a netbook. The chassis design, long battery life and built in 3G data are plusses, but not enough to justify the price tag. Nokia must be hoping a network operator picks this one up soon and offers it for a hefty subsidy.
Sandra Vogel
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