Category of small cheap notebooks became very popular and there is no wonder why most of big brands want a piece of cake for themselves. But Asus got all of them off-guard. Because of that we’ve been waiting rather long for Eee’s true rival . We’ve already mentioned MSI’s agility which allowed them again to be first with new product on market. Their trump card wears name Wind and model that InsideHW had tested is MSI Wind U100.
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The long waited AMD platform for notebooks under the name PUMA is finally introduced and InsideHW had a chance to test notebook based on this platform. To all users that have been waiting cheap integrated graphics with good performances, time has come. Intel Centrino was so far “untouchable” in field of portable computers but AMD Puma, by all appearance, got a necessary quality to fight for highest position.
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USB hard disks lately become very popular. This especially goes for 2.5’’models. The reasons for that can be found in their usefulness and practicality. Yet, we are living in times when it is necessary to transfer huge amounts of data from place to place. At first, manufacturers on market fought with larger and larger capacity of these devices. Lately, when capacity stopped being key factor, manufacturers turned to HDD case design. On that field, Prestigio went step ahead of its competitors and launched Prestigio data Safe II Fashion Edition.
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At the end of June, in Spain, we were introduced to a new series of 48xx graphics cards from ATI. We saw then only RV770PRO (4850) but at this moment 4870 (RV770XT) is also available. Even though our sources from AMD didn’t unveil why 4870 wasn’t shown on launching, we assume that some problems with quantities of available GDDR5 memory occurred. Considering that 4850 uses GDDR3 memory, it is no surprise that many retailers had them on stock. ATI 4870 will be sold, in beginning, exclusively with GDDR5 memory (this is the first graphics card that uses this memory) but AMD leaves a possibility that some innovative partner might launch later version that uses GDDR3 memory.
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It’s rare occasion to have on test, on the same month, new generation products from two big rivals (nVIDIA and ATI). This is really good news because ATI had some serious delays with R600 and that is one of reasons why it was so indifferently received on market. ATI realized that now must roll up its sleeves to catch up nVIDIA, because at that point seemed that nVIDIA unreachably moved away.
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Beside two-digit number of mega-pixels, Canon A640 comes in black color, completely new for A series. Few commands and lens with frame, i.e. ˝bayonet˝ for accessories (in form of tele-converter and filter adapter) are left in silver color. Experts in Canon cameras cannot miss detail of such importance. Specifically designed 4-way button, unfortunately last seen with Ixus 40 camera, reemerges with A640. Being asked why this appealingly small detail seems to have such importance, we answer briefly: excellent ergonomics and definition of press with fast acceptance of commands. All of this will enable more advance amateurs, which are most commonly choosing this type of camera, fast and elegant handling.
Both, A630 and A640 are equipped with excellent 4x optic zoom lenses, which we have to be used as a substitute for a little bit narrower wide area. It is definitely a minus for company with photography tradition like Canon’s. Lens consists of eight elements (lenses) allocated in seven groups, out of which two lenses are aspheric, for purpose of focus and contrast improvement. For less demanding users, two additional options have been added. Digital Tele Converter is an option of fix digital zoom adjustment, which will be present on all photos, while Safety Zone enables digital zoom without loss in case of operating with images of smaller dimensions. In this manner, digital zoom extends until the point of image quality loss, whereby full resolution of CCD chip is used.
Speed of camera operation is significantly improved. Auto focus is very fast, and it is possible to make choice between several operating modes. 9-point AF system automatically chooses motive being closest to the camera, out of 9 point matrix, allocated within entire cadre, and it is one of the most useful options for beginners, considering it rarely happens that images done with using this options are blur. Manual choice of focusing point, irreplaceable during work with tripod or macro photography is supported by FlexiZone option, when it is possible to manually determine referent part of cadre for focus and exposition determination.
New A models offer bunch of classical tourist programs with already known manual options of class A. we have to mention new option of High ISO program, which enables increase of ISO value in order to preserve maximal exposition speed, thereby preventing blurring of photography. But, given that 10 MP on this type of small chip is a bit too much, we are not sure of usability of this option except for documenting purposes.
Canon’s specialty, rotating screen, until this moment reserved just for the top model, is the next treat Canon transfers into middle segment of A series. These screens are useful in many situations when camera cannot be in eye-sight level. No matter whether the picture is being taken from side or above the head, rotating screen enables an excellent view, thus guarantying more precise focusing. We will not forget excellent refreshment speed of LCD display, which with diagonal extension to 2.5“ gives really unimaginable options for easy cadre tracking and taking photograph from even most difficult positions!
Big screen also enables better view of taken photographs, with new options like view of over exposed parts of an image in full format or better shooting in 3:2 ratios, which shows preview of image to be printed on traditional miniLab processors in photo shops. For all who prefer traditional photography methods, Canon offer excellent optic searchers, which has great implementation in poor visibility conditions or in bright sun rays or in all occasion when we want to maximally save our batteries.
Shooting video materials is in VGA resolution in 30fps and it has already traditionally top quality with big files, so we recommend to everyone who want to use one of these cameras as a substitute for classic video camera, one of cheaper tripods for still photographs, as well as 2GB card which is capable of storing significant quantity of video material! Both cameras use 4AA batteries, which will provide excellent autonomy and fast flesh charging.
10 MP in this small camera sound really prepossessing, however, all benefits of A640 comparing to its forerunners are difficult to express. Improvement in operation speed and camera handling is visible, same as excellent ergonomics, which is improved by excellent buttons and rotating display. However, 10 MP in this type of small chip is definitely subject of our excitement. Quality of photographs made with high brightness is on standard level, with already present, for Canon unparticular color smudges, especially noticeable in shadows and darker parts of images. But, with brightness decrease which causes lens opening we discover that it is not simple to manufacture and embed in price lens with optic characteristics fitting to density of photo elements of 10 MP CCD chip.
Of course, effects on images made with higher ISO values do not require special outline. Of course, all of this is nothing worse than competition which can commend with similar number of MP, but Canon get us used to nothing but the best. Sometimes excessive expectation can disappoint us. Due to this reason, unless you are very ambitious, our recommendations are saved for A630 model with 8 MP CCD, which is, beside price, being characterized with very balanced options and very realistic ambitions regarding MP number, which is actually being supported.
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