ASUS Eee Box Keyboard and Mouse Coming

Category: Manufacturers, Input Devices
Posted: December 26, 2008 06:03PM
Author: Brentt Moore

Users of the Eee Box from ASUS bought the computer because of many factors, such as its low price, small design, and decent performance. While there have obviously been a great amount of options to use as far as keyboards and mice come, some owners are craving for something more. ASUS is gearing up a wireless keyboard and mouse combo, that are both black in color, but feature white accents. The electronics company is also going to offer a remote that features an array of multimedia buttons and options. The remote is also a black and white colored device, though not as dark colored as the keyboard and mouse combo.

Logitech Introduces New Gaming Keyboard

Category: Input Devices
Posted: December 10, 2008 03:08PM
Author: Brentt Moore

Logitech, who is mainly known for their large amount of various computer peripherals, is now releasing a new gaming keyboard known as the G13 Gameboard. The gameboard is a 25 programmable key device that is made to work alongside a standard keyboard and mouse, and is supposed to offer a advantage for games that use heavy keyboard use. It features its own built in memory that can store user defined settings, and also features a LCD screen that has a resolution of 160x143, which can show live game statistics. While the device will be available in stores this month, it is expected to be released in the UK sometime early next year.

Computer Mouse Reaches 40th Birthday

Category: Input Devices
Posted: December 9, 2008 10:42AM
Author: Ben Grantham

The mouse was first demonstrated on the 9th of December 1968 by Douglas Engelbart to show novel ways of working with computers. That mouse was made of wood and had one button and two wheels to provide control over a tracking spot on the screen. The basic principles haven't changed much since then, though the technology used to track movement has improved significantly. Many of the researchers behind that original demo will be reunited today as a celebration is planned in California. Some people may argue that life begins at 40, but in the case of the mouse some wouldn't be so sure. However, I don't think we'll see it disappearing from our desktops any time soon.

Keyboard Strokes Susceptible to Remote Electronic Monitoring

Category: Input Devices
Posted: October 21, 2008 05:47AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Van Eck phreaking is a concept that's been around for over 20 years. It refers to the practice of remotely capturing the electromagnetic signals radiated by a computer monitor and reverse engineering the signals to reproduce the image on a second monitor. First proposed by Dutch computer scientists Wim van Eck in 1985, the concept is more than just a theory and can present a real threat to sensitive information. Now two doctoral students at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland have applied a similar type of technique to detect the signals emitted from wired keyboards when the keys are pressed. While the idea has been thought theoretically possible, the two students believe this is the first time it has been demonstrated to be feasible. Using different techniques they were able to pick up and reproduce the typed text from 11 different keyboards, including laptop keyboards, from up to 20 meters away. Sounds like it may be time for the more paranoid among us to begin work on that giant Faraday cage you've always wanted.

Microsoft Releases New BlueTrack Mice

Category: Input Devices
Posted: September 9, 2008 08:28PM
Author: Dale Shuck

Microsoft announced two new mice featuring its patented BlueTrack technology. Billed by Microsoft as a laser-killer, BlueTrack is designed to function on virtually all surfaces including reflective surfaces where laser and optical mice fall short. The new Explorer mice will come in two versions - one regular sized and an Explorer Mini that is a travel sized version selling for $100 US and $80 respectively. Microsoft continued it new product spree with its Arc mouse and Wireless Mobile mouse, ergonomic and gaming keyboards and two new web cams. These new products will become available beginning in late September and continuing through October and November.

Control Devices With Your Tongue

Category: Input Devices
Posted: August 25, 2008 09:01AM
Author: ClayMeow

Input devices have evolved greatly over the years, from keyboards to joysticks to mice...even to devices controlled by eye movements or your mind. So it goes without saying that the next evolution in input devices would come in the form of...your tongue. This isn't to control an on-screen avatar or aim your gun in games though, but instead to provide a new way for disabled people to control key components of their every day lives, such as maneuvering a wheelchair or turning on a light. The aim of the device, dubbed the Tongue Drive System, is to transform the mouth into a virtual computer; the teeth become the keyboard, and the tongue manipulates it all as a joystick of sorts. Why the tongue? One of the main reasons is because the tongue and its functionality is often spared in paralyzing accidents, as the tongue is attached to the brain and not the spinal cord. In addition, the tongue is flexible, sensitive and tireless, making it an ideal instrument for more complicated actions and prolonged use. The system uses a small magnet placed under the tip of the tongue, and the movement is tracked by sensors on the side of each cheek, which then sends data to a receiver atop a headgear. Software then converts those signals into commands for various devices, like a wheelchair. The device is still in its infancy, but it's already promising to researchers, as well as testers.

NZXT Announce Avatar Performance Gaming Mouse

Category: Input Devices
Posted: August 11, 2008 11:37AM
Author: Ben Grantham

The market for gaming mice is a competitive one, with many companies vying for the best performance using the most accurate sensor technology. You are probably more familiar with NZXT as a case manufacturer, so the introduction of a gaming mouse may come as a slight surprise. The Avatar mouse features a 2600 DPI optical sensor and a programmable 7 button configuration. A four speed DPI switch allows you to adjust the DPI from 650 to the maximum 2600 and an LED indicator tells you which setting you are currently using. Retailing at $59.99, it will be going up against some tough competition. Whether it holds its own or not is something we will be sure to let you know should we get our hands on one.

Carpet Keyboard

Category: Input Devices, Gadgets
Posted: May 29, 2008 01:04PM
Author: ClayMeow

File this one under the "what will they think of next?" category. Apparently, Maurin Donneaud felt that typing with his hands has become boring. Thus, he decided to build a giant carpet keyboard that allows him to type with his feet.  It's definitely an interesting device, but one has to ask whether it's really worth the effort, because God knows it's got to get tiring real quick.  You can view a slew of pictures at his Flickr site.

USB 3.0 to hit the shelves sometime in 2009

Category: Input Devices
Posted: April 8, 2008 05:44PM
Author: Andrew Robinson

Jeff Ravencraft (the USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman) has said that USB 3.0 is on its way and that we should expect some primary releases in 2009. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 can deliver a maximum data rate of 5Gbit/s, that is enough throughput to download a 27GB HighDef movie in a bit over one minute. SuperSpeed USB 3.0 is most likely geared toward the increasing speeds of flash based media as the current hard drive tecjnology wouldn't benefit from such a speed increase.

Gigabyte to make PC peripherals

Category: Gaming, Input Devices, Gadgets
Posted: March 18, 2008 03:12PM
Author: Andrew Robinson

Gigabyte which is (known for its motherboard production) will be producing high-end gaming peripherals starting in late march. Their products will be marketed at a lower price then Razer which has a plethora of gaming peripherals in the market already. The first gaming product Gigabyte will release is the GK-K8000 (Ghost Gaming Series) keyboard which will be priced at $113, however the current MSRP of all four of Razers keyboards are under $99.

Razer Introduce Entry Level 'Salmosa' Mouse

Category: Gaming, Manufacturers, Input Devices
Posted: March 4, 2008 05:03AM
Author: Ben Grantham

Razer -

Razer, a company known for producing gaming mice of the high-end persuasion have chosen the CeBit trade show in Hannover to launch its first effort at an entry level mouse. Now Razer's idea of entry level probably differs a little to what a regular user might have in mind and as such the Salmosa still gets a 1800dpi Razer Precision 3G infrared sensor, 1000Hz Ultrapolling, On-The-Fly sensitivity adjustment and other features you'd associate with some of Razer's previous offerings. The style of the mouse is certainly in keeping with others in the company's line up, with a sleek and compact design. The Salmosa also happens to be particularly light, which is something that will suit gamers who like to play with a deft touch. Of course, the main motivation for Razer to introduce an entry level model is to appeal to those who may not considered a Razer mouse before. The $39.99 (29.99 euro) is certainly more reasonable (could it be called entry-level?), but I'm not sure about that name. Razer also happen to be running a contest to win a Salmosa over at the read link.

Hardware Roundup: Wednesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, CPU's, Cases, Input Devices, CPU Cooling
Posted: February 13, 2008 05:07AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our middle of the week wanderings turned up some goodies from our affiliate sites so let's get started by visiting a couple of videocard reviews.  First in line is Neoseeker and their look at the VisionTek HD 3870 which differs from the reference design with the inclusion of an oversized heatsink and a more powerful fan.  For double the GPU fun on a single card, TechSpot has the ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2.  For a comprehensive look at over 336 graphics cards you can check out the Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide from Tech ARP which has updated to include several Intel integrated graphic processors.  Speaking of TechSpot, did you know they have a sister site written in Spanish?  They've just published  Prueba de desempeño AMD Phenom.  Next up we have a couple of CPU cooling products.  The Asus Triton 77 Heatsink that comes equipped with a "Sunon MagLev 92mm vapo-bearing PWM fan".  Sounds impressive, but how well does it perform?  Head on over to FrostyTech to find out.  Bjorn3D evaluates the Thermaltake Bigwater 760i and finds it somewhat lacking.  Can the SteelSeries Ikari Laser Mouse make you a better gamer?  Head on over to ThinkComputers to find out.  If you're looking to tame the noise from your rig, Virtual-Hideout has a look at the Nexus Caterpillar ATX Quiet Case to see if it can do the job.

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Networking, Power Supplies, Input Devices, General News
Posted: February 7, 2008 05:15AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Thursdays seem to be a slow day in the roundup so that gives us a perfect opportunity to welcome our newest affiliate Fudzilla and give you a chance to check out their review of the Diamond dual slot 3850 512MB Ruby Edition.  On the green side ThinkComputers offers up the Palit GeForce 8600 GT Super+1GB Video Card.  3dGameMan has posted a video review of the Tuniq Ensemble 1200W Power Supply.  Powerline networking is one of those technologies that seems to offer a lot of promise but so many of the products out there have failed to deliver.  Techgage evaluates the Actiontec MegaPlug AV200 Mbps Ethernet Adapter to see whether it offers a viable option to extend your network.  PCApex has published an interview with Mark Friga Jr. owner of FrozenCPU.com.  Before you go, be sure to check out the SteelSeries Ikari Laser Gaming Mouse at OCModshop.

Hardware Roundup: Friday Edition

Category: Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Operating Systems, Mobile, Input Devices, Storage / Hard Drives, General News, CPU Cooling, VGA Cooling
Posted: February 1, 2008 06:20AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our Friday roundup seems to have picked up a bit after yesterday's lull with a good mix of items.  Tech ARP starts off with a bit of news telling us Windows Vista Service Pack 1 Out Next Week, at least for OEMs.  PC Perspective has some additional news in their podcast as they look at AMD Q4 results, NVIDIA ESA, VIA Isaiah x86 CPU, AMD 3870 X2 and more.  The AMD Spider platform is designed for its line of Phenom processors.  Today we get a chance to examine the MSI K9A2 Platinum AMD 790FX Motherboard from HotHardware.  For Intel fans we have two more boards from MSI based on the P35 chipset.  First in the queue is a TweakTown review of the MSI P35 Diamond Motherboard.  This board supports DDR3 memory and offers onboard X-Fi sound.  Buying a new board based on the P35 chipset means choosing between DDR2 and DDR3 memory formats.  The are trade offs involved with going with either format.  Viper Lair reviews the MSI P35 Platinum Combo board that offers you the option of using either memory type.  What could be easier?  Then there's the choice of which processor to buy.  TechSpot has a look at Intel Core 2 Duo 45nm Wolfdale vs. 65nm Conroe to see what the new 45nm technology has to offer.  Back over at TweakTown we get a look at the ASUS Triton 75 CPU Cooler that uses a passive design but also allows you to attach a 120mm fan.  Also in the cooling arena, Techgage pits two aftermarket VGA coolers against each other in their GeForce 8800 GTS/GTX Cooler Comparison.  Next off you get to compare two other products with the Razer Pro|Click Mac Gaming Mouse at Virtual-Hideout and the Steelseries Ikari Optical Gaming Mouse at Tweaknews.  Computer builders are always looking for the perfect place to house their rigs.  With so many choices it's always a tough decision and motherboards.org has a look at the Ultra Products M998 Case.  Your iPhone deserves a case of its own as well. The Otterbox for iPhone Defender Series at ThinkComputers is a good way to protect your investment.  Bjorn3D has a review of the Thermaltake Muse X-Duo Raid external storage unit.  Finally PCSTATS has another installment in their ongoing series with the Beginners Guides: Setting up an FTP Server in WindowsXP.

Hardware Roundup: Friday Edition

Category: Video Cards, CPU's, Cases, Mobile, Manufacturers, Gaming, Input Devices, Storage / Hard Drives, Gadgets, Modding
Posted: January 25, 2008 07:45AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Time for another spin around the web.  Yesterday we were treated to a look at VIA's new Centaur technology and today we're back with more.  First we have VIA Isaiah Processor Architecture Preview - Low Power CPU from PC Perspective.  [H]ardocp returns with Centaur Technology Tour in Pictures with a look at the Centaur offices in Texas.  The Styx Gaming Mouse may not do for you what the river by that name did for Achilles but RBMods gives us a chance to check it out.  If you love your current mouse but it's looking a little worn, then head on over to Tech ARP for some advice from their Logitech MX510 Paint Mod Guide.  Gaming seems to be the focus of a lot of hardware these days and Sapphire's Ultimate HD 3850 and Atomic HD 3870 from HotHardware affords us another look at the recent AMD/ATI cards.  Neoseeker publishes a look at Core 2 Duo Scaling in Gaming.  Aeneon is a new line of memory products being offered by Qimonda.  While that name that might not be familiar to a lot of folks, you'll find their chips in a lot of applications including some of the best performing video cards.  Today Bjorn3d reviews the Aeneon Xtune DDR3-1333.  Also in the memory/storage department we have the Super Talent Pico A 2GB Flash Drive at ExtremeMHz.  Raidmax is well-known for their cases.  Find out why ThinkComputers says the Sagitta 2 PC Case isn't your typical gaming case.  In the gadgets arena we found the CoolIT Beverage Chiller at Overclockers Online and the iSkin Revo & Revo Clip for Apple iPhone at Legit Reviews.

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Cooling, Gaming, Music / Video Players, Input Devices, Monitors, Gadgets, VGA Cooling
Posted: January 24, 2008 05:16AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Many hardware manufacturers are beginning to tout their products as supporting the ESA standard and are even prominently display the ESA logo.  Just what is ESA?  PC Perspective explains it all in their NVIDIA ESA: Enthusiast System Architecture article.  AMD/ATI has been getting some of the limelight with their HD 3850/3870 video cards.  TweakTown shares the MSI Radeon HD 3870 X2 OC Graphics Card with us and you need to pay attention to the "X2" in the name because this is the new dual GPU version!  Sharing the spotlight is the fact that AMD also just released two other cards as well and Legit Reviews looks at the ATI Radeon HD 3450 and Radeon HD 3650 Video Cards.  For NVIDIA fans there is always the Inno3D 8800 GT iChill at Overclocker Cafe which sports a factory overclock and an Arctic Cooling Accelero X1 cooler.  There's another new video technology making its way onto the market these days and you can head over to Techgage to read about DisplayLink - Multi-Display Setups with USB.  Crysis is a game known for bringing many a system to  its knees.  What does it take to play this game at the highest resolutions?  HotHarware has the Crysis v1.1 NVIDIA 3-Way SLI Performance Update.  What good is a new video card without a large monitor to show off all that eye candy?  That's where the Samsung SyncMaster 275T TFT LCD comes in and LAN Addict gives us a chance to check it out.  Madshrimps just posted their Foxconn P35AP-S Motherboard Revisited: New BIOS.  FrostyTech looks at the Xigmatek MAC-S3501 DDR/DDR2 Memory Heatspreaders and questions just how necessary is an active memory cooling solution.  The Lian Li PC-P80 Case garners some pretty strong superlatives in the video review from 3dGameMan.  Low power CPUs are more often found in mobile devices, not in enthusiasts' machines so find out what [H]ardocp has to say about VIA's New Centaur Designed Isaiah CPU Architecture.  TechReport has a quick look at SanDisk's Sansa Clip MP3 player for those of you looking for a small music player whose name doesn't begin with an 'i'.  When gaming, if your hands sweat like a kid on his first date then the Logitech ChillStream Actively Cooled Gamepad at Tweak News might be the answer for you.  Don't forget to check out the Geeks 7" Digital Picture Frame over at Monster-Hardware before you go.

Hardware Roundup: Wednesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, CPU's, Power Supplies, Gaming, Input Devices, Storage / Hard Drives, CPU Cooling
Posted: January 23, 2008 05:02AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our roundup netted some interesting items today.  In addition to the normal reviews, we turned up some launch information on new video cards from AMD/ATI.  These new cards are based on the 55nm RV635 and RV620 GPUs and HotHardware has the AMD ATI Radeon HD 3650 and 3450 Refresh Launch.  Bjorn3d brings us more details in their AMD HD34X0 and HD3650 Info.  For even more video card reviews check out Overclocked GeForce 8800 GTS 512 MB Roundup from [H]ardocp where they look at three different factory-overclocked products.  Tech ARP has also updated their Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide. What can you expect from a $50 power supply?   [H]ardocp has a look at the SilverStone Strider ST400 400w Power Supply and lets us know what you get in this entry-level product.  On the other end of the performance spectrum TweakTown checks out the Tuniq Miniplant 950watt Power Supply.  We often see reviews of single CPUs but today TechSpot is looking at the AMD Phenom processor family performance including the Phenom 9500, 9600, 9700 and the 9900.  Keeping those processors cool is a tough job. FrostyTech has the Arctic Cooling Alpine 7 Pro Intel Heatsink.  For a more exotic solution, check out the CoolIT Freezone Elite CPU Cooler at Techgage.  Gamers will want to read about the Microsoft Sidewinder Gaming Mouse at motherboards.org.  Coming to the Wii in October is the new fight game Bleach: Shattered Blade and Bona Fide Reviews fills us in on the details.  PCSTATS has posted their Beginners Guides: Formatting and Partitioning a Hard Drive.

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Motherboards, CPU's, Gaming, Input Devices, Speakers/Headphones, Gadgets, CPU Cooling, Mouse Pad, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: January 21, 2008 05:27AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Today's roundup kicks off with the BlueAnt X5 Stereo Bluetooth Headset at Legit Reviews.  We have several items for you gamers today.  Performance and control are two features gamers look for in a mousing surface and the SteelSeries SP Pro Gaming Mousepad aims to offer a combination of both.  OCModShop lets us know if it delivers on those promises.  The X-Arcade Tankstick Dual Controller with Trackball from HotHardware might have you reminiscing about the all the quarters you spent at the arcade (see the OCC review here).  Not every game can be played with a mouse and keyboard and if you're a flight sim fan you need to check out the Saitek X52 Joystick at motherboards.org  (you can also read the OCC review here).  If you're still trying to decide which Intel processor to include in your next upgrade head over to Tech ARP for a look at their Intel Core 2 Performance Comparison Guide.  Much has been written about the current state of AMD's processor lineup and the Phenom vs. Core2 Quad debate so why would AMD offer another entry in the AM2 family?  See what Virtual-Hideout has to say about the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Black Edition CPU  (don't forget to read the OCC review as well).  TweakTown has the ATI Catalyst 8.1 Analysis - XP & Vista.  Bjorn3D reviews the ASUS Maximus Formula (Non-SE) based on Intel's X38 chipset.  Few enthusiasts ever choose to use a stock CPU cooling solution.  However, choosing the best alternative is always a trade off in price, performance and noise levels.  RBmods looks at the GlacialTech Igloo 5750 Silent CPU Cooler and sees if this dual-fan model is worhty of your consideration.  CES 2008 converage continues with Best of CES 2008 at Techgage.  ThinkComputers also brings us more CES 2008 goodies with Lunch@Piero’s, Cooler Master and Sands Expo.

Hardware Roundup: Wednesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Cases, Optical Drives, Cooling, Sound Cards, Power Supplies, Mobile, Input Devices, CPU Cooling, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: January 16, 2008 05:00AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Looking around the web today we turned up an interesting article titled Limited Release Of NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS? at Tech ARP speculating on NVIDIA's move to position new products to stop some of AMD/ATI's success they're seeing with its HD 3850/3870 cards.  You can read about more fallout in the HD format wars in the Next-Generation Content War Continues to Ravage HD DVD from Madshrimps.  Many CPU cooling solutions make use of heatpipes these days.  One innovative twist on this approach can be seen in the Xigmatek HDT-S983 Exposed Heatpipe-Base Heatsink reviewed by FrostyTech where the design puts the heatpipes directly in contact with the CPU.  Keeping your investment future-proof is tough in the ever-changing world of computers.  The Foxconn DigitaLife X38A Intel X38 Express Motherboard at PCSTATS tries to address this by offering support for both DDR2 and DDR3 memory formats.  As sometimes happens, we ended up with a two-fer on this product as TweakTown also has a look at this motherboard today. 3dGameMan has a review of the all aluminum Thermaltake Xaser VI Case.  As home theater systems gain in popularity, people are finding out how difficult to operate them from the comfort of the couch.  One solution is a wireless keyboard and motherboards.org looks at the XGene Trackball Keyboard.  Corsair may be best known for its memory products, but they also offer some solid performing power supplies as RBMods reveals in their Corsair TX750W Power Supply review.  DarkVision Hardware brings us a look at the Vizo Ninja II Notebook Cooler.  PC Perspective gives us a chance to see what the ASUS Xonar D2 Sound Card and U1 USB Audio Station have to offer as an alternative to Creative's X-Fi products.  We end the roundup with continuing CES 2008 coverage from Thinkcomputers as the look at Targus, Dell and ASUS.

Hardware Roundup: Tuesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Cases, Memory, Cooling, Mobile, Gaming, Input Devices, Speakers/Headphones, CPU Cooling, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: January 8, 2008 04:54AM
Author: Dale Shuck

CES 2008 starts its second day today so be sure to check back during the day as our team provides continuing coverage of this huge event.  Our roundup takes us first to The Witcher Gameplay and Performance at [H]ardocp where they analyze the game and evaluate its performance using four different video cards.  Water cooling enthusiasts will want to check out the Danger Den Water Box Plus and Kit at 3dGameMan.  If water cooling isn't your thing, FrostyTech  looks at the Apack Zerotherm Nirvana 120 Heatsink.  nVidia's 8800 series cards have generated a lot of interest and NVNews reviews the XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog Edition.  We also have a pair of DDR3 memory kit reviews with the OCZ 2x1GB DDR3-1333 Gold Edition Memory Kit at Virtual-Hideout and the Corsair Dominator DDR3 1800MHz Intel XMP Memory at PC Perspective.  TweakNews has a look at the SteelSeries Siberia Neckband Gaming Headset and comes away pleased with what they heard.  Refresh products often fail to impress, but Bjorn3D finds the Thermaltake Armor+ a worthy upgrade to the original product.  Check out MetkuMods to see if the same holds true for the Logitech G15 Rev2.  The Tech Report has a look at Asus' Eee PC 4G sub-notebook.  Other CES coverage comes from [H]ardocp as they fill us in on announcements from Intel and nVidia.

The Witcher Gameplay and Performance @ [H]
Intel Unveils 16 New Processors @ [H]
Danger Den Water Box Plus and Kit @ 3dGameMan
Apack Zerotherm Nirvana 120 Heatsink @ FrostyTech
NVIDIA Hybrid SLI Technology @ [H]
XFX 8800GT Alpha Dog Edition @ NVNews
OCZ 2x1GB DDR3-1333 Gold Edition Memory Kit @ Virtual-Hideout
SteelSeries Siberia Neckband Gaming Headset @ Tweaknews
Thermaltake Armor+ @ Bjorn3D
Logitech G15 Rev2 @ MetkuMods
Corsair Dominator DDR3 1800MHz Intel XMP Memory @ PC Perspective
Asus' Eee PC 4G sub-notebook @ The Tech Report

Logitech Unveils Mini-Keyboard for Total Control of PC Entertainment from the Sofa

Category: Input Devices
Posted: January 7, 2008 10:51AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Logitech -

Logitech unveiled the diNovo Mini keyboard with media remote at CES over the weekend.  The palm-sized device is designed to interface with home theater PC systems and makes it easy to control your HTPC from the sofa via a Bluetooth 2.0 wireless connection. For easy navigation, the diNovo Mini keyboard features backlighting and an innovative ClickPad, which can be used as a touch pad to point, scroll and click – or as a directional pad to navigate menus and make selections.  The keyboard features a keypad, dedicated hotkeys for media players and Web browsers, as well as prominent Page Up and Page Down buttons, which allow people to scroll when surfing the Web as well as zoom in and out of documents and images. The keyboard even offers a dedicated button that launches Windows Media Center, as well as a row of media controls that allow people to adjust volume and easily play, pause, stop, fast forward and rewind. "The Logitech diNovo Mini keyboard extends Logitech’s tradition of developing innovative products to meet the changing times," said Denis Pavillard, vice president of product marketing for Logitech’s keyboards and desktops. "Today, more and more people are hooking up their PCs to their TVs. The sleek, minimalist design and thoughtful function make the diNovo Mini keyboard the perfect complement to the living-room or home-theater PC." The diNovo Mini comes with rechargeable Li-ion batteries that last up to one month between charges. The keyboard is expected to be available in the U.S. and Europe beginning in late February for a suggested retail price of $149.99US.

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Memory, Gaming, Music / Video Players, Input Devices, Monitors, Gadgets, CPU Cooling, Trade Shows/Conventions
Posted: January 7, 2008 05:57AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Our Monday roundup marks the official opening of CES 2008 and OCC has already begun its coverage along with with some of our affiliates.  But first we need to see what else is up for review today.  We have a daily double from Tech ARP with their Crysis Benchmarking Guide and their updated Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide.  Virtual-Hideout takes on the Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse.  Motherboards.org has a look at the V7 D24W33 24 Inch (HDMI) LCD Monitor from Video 7.  DD@ memory is still alive and kicking and TweakTown reviews the PNY DDR2 XLR8 PC2-9384 2GB Memory Kit.  For those of you looking for an easy way to get into water cooling, Tweaknews has the Thermaltake Bigwater 760i Liquid Cooling System up for review today.  In the budget motherboard department, Bjorn3D has a look at the Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L based on the Intel P31 chipset.  If you didn't get a new music player under the tree this year, head on over to RBMods for a review of the Apple iPod Nano 3rd Generation.  Now, on to CES coverage.  In addition to OCC's own coverage, today we have CES Unveiled 2008 at ThinkComputers.org, CES Unveiled & Logitech Announcements at Techgage and Warner Home Video Fallout Hits CES 2008 from Madshrimps.

Crysis Benchmarking Guide @ Tech ARP
Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse @ Virtual-Hideout
V7 D24W33 24 Inch (HDMI) LCD Monitor @ Motherboards.org
Nyko Intercooler for Playstation 3 @ OCModShop
CES Unveiled 2008 @ ThinkComputers.org
CES Unveiled & Logitech Announcements @ Techgage
Desktop Graphics Card Comparison Guide @ Tech ARP
Warner Home Video Fallout Hits CES 2008 @ Madshrimps
PNY DDR2 XLR8 PC2-9384 2GB Memory Kit @ TweakTown
Thermaltake Bigwater 760i Liquid Cooling System @ Tweaknews
Gigabyte GA-P31-DS3L @ Bjorn3D
Apple iPod Nano 3rd Generation @ RBMods

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Memory, Cooling, Sound Cards, Power Supplies, Mobile, Gaming, Input Devices, Storage / Hard Drives, Mouse Pad
Posted: December 30, 2007 10:20PM
Author: Dale Shuck

The last day of 2007 yields an interesting collection of items from around the web so while you're waiting for the final countdown 'til 2008 have a look at what we found.  There are several guides out there today beginning with the Formatting and Partitioning a Hard Drive at PCSTATS.  Next up is the Sound Card Buying Guide and the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB Overclocking Guide, both from Tech ARP.  Madshrimps has an interview with the president of Razer titled Razer Prez Shares His Thoughts On The Gaming Market.  Moving along to the hardware arena we have the Tuniq Miniplant 950w PSU reviewed by Overclocker Cafe.  For notebook owners looking for additional connectivity options, check out the APIOTEK Laptop Accessory Cards at Motherboards.org.  DDR2 memory is still alive and kicking and currently provides a price advantage over DDR3 modules and TweakTown has the OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ReaperX HPC 4GB Kit up for review.  While the Reaper series comes with a heatpipe cooling design, your current memory may be in need of some additional cooling help and that's where the Scythe Kama Wing Memory Heatsink reviewed by 3dGameMan comes in.  Speaking of cooling, TweakTown brings us a look at the OCZ Freeze Thermal Interface Material and compares its performance against several other offerings on the market.  Overclocker Cafe has a look at the HIS Radeon HD3850 IceQ3 TurboX and Madshrimps has the Cyber Snipa Tracer Mouse Pad for your reading enjoyment.  In the mobile department, Tech ARP has an overview of the Samsung SGH-D880 Dual SIM Mobile Phone.  The Logitech Wave Keyboard is an ergonomic board designed for extended typing sessions and you can find a review at Motherboards.org.

Tuniq Miniplant 950w PSU @ Overclocker Cafe
APIOTEK Laptop Accessory Cards @ Motherboards.org
Beginners Guides: Formatting and Partitioning a Hard Drive @ PCSTATS
Sound Card Buying Guide @ Tech ARP
OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 ReaperX HPC 4GB Kit @ TweakTown
Scythe Kama Wing Memory Heatsink @ 3dGameMan
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB Overclocking Guide @ Tech ARP
HIS Radeon HD3850 IceQ3 TurboX @ Overclocker Cafe
Cyber Snipa Tracer Mouse Pad @ Madshrimps
Razer Prez Shares His Thoughts On The Gaming Market @ Madshrimps
Samsung SGH-D880 Dual SIM Mobile Phone @ Tech ARP
OCZ Freeze Thermal Interface Material @ TweakTown
Logitech Wave Keyboard @ ThinkComputers.org

Hardware Roundup: Wednesday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Cases, Input Devices, Speakers/Headphones
Posted: December 26, 2007 04:33AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Searching around the web today we have the Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 at Techgage.  Tech ARP reviews the Edifier C3 2.1 Speaker System that includes a separate amplifier in its own enclosure.  Next in the lineup is the Raidmax Aztec Gaming Case reviewed at ThinkComputers.  Techgage also has a look at the the USB-based Turtle Beach Ear Force AK-R8 Headphones aimed at the gaming market.  Finally Bjorn3D reviews the XFX 8800 GTS 512 XXX Alpha Dog video card.  

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 8000 @ Techgage
Edifier C3 2.1 Speaker System @ Tech ARP
Raidmax Aztec Gaming Case @ ThinkComputers
Turtle Beach Ear Force AK-R8 Headphones @ Techgage
XFX 8800 GTS 512 XXX Alpha Dog @ Bjorn3D

Hardware Roundup: Monday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, Memory, Power Supplies, Mobile, Input Devices, Storage / Hard Drives
Posted: December 24, 2007 06:33AM
Author: Dale Shuck

A quick tour around the web this morning turned up a nice mix of reviews for you to peruse. Tech ARP has the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Graphics Card as well as the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Overclocking Guide.  Another guide to overclocking is available from PCSTATS who bring us their Maximum Overclocking Charts.  Tweaktown has a look at an ATI-based card with the GECUBE Radeon HD 3850 X-Turbo III. While there, you can also check out their look at the Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200.11 Hard Drive.  Techgage also has two reviews this morning starting with the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe WiFi-AP.  They also review the Toshiba Satellite P205D-S7479 notebook.  Madshrimps has another video card in the roundup today as they look at the XFX Geforce 8500GT Fatal1ty Video Card.  Virtual-Hideout puts the bGears b-Tarantula 650W Modular Power Supply under the microscope.  Finishing up today's collection, check out the Mushkin XP2-6400 4GB Memory Kit at Bjorn3D and the Saitek Notebook Optical Mouse & Mini Hub at ThinkComputers.

NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Graphics Card @ Tech ARP
Maximum Overclocking Charts @ PCSTATS
GECUBE Radeon HD 3850 X-Turbo III @ TweakTown
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GT Overclocking Guide @ Tech ARP
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200.11 Hard Drive @ TweakTown
Saitek Notebook Optical Mouse & Mini Hub @ ThinkComputers
bGears b-Tarantula 650W Modular Power Supply @ Virtual-Hideout
ASUS P5E3 Deluxe WiFi-AP @ Techgage
Toshiba Satellite P205D-S7479 @ Techgage
XFX Geforce 8500GT Fatal1ty Video Card @ Madshrimps
Mushkin XP2-6400 4GB Memory Kit @ Bjorn3D

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Cases, Memory, Cooling, Gaming, Input Devices, Speakers/Headphones, Storage / Hard Drives, CPU Cooling
Posted: December 20, 2007 04:54AM
Author: Dale Shuck

Today the web has yielded up a collection of reviews from our affiliates so let's get started.  First up is the GMC Noblesse AVC-S7 Slimline HTPC Case from OCModShop.  If you need a larger case ViperLair has the Silverstone Temjin Tj10 for you to look at.  Two more video card reviews are out beginning with NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB with Tech ARP's look at the NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB followed by the ASUS EN8800GT TOP 512MB at Bjorn3D.  In the world of cooling Madshrimps reviews the Danger Den NVIDIA 4101 H20 Water Cooling Kit.  Tweaknews looks at the Thermalright HR-11 Videocard Backside Cooler and FrostyTech checks out the Scythe Infinity SCINF-1000 Heatsink.  If you're looking for DDR3 memory TweakTown tests the Patriot Memory PC3-15000 (1866 MHz) DDR3 kit.  To enhance your gaming experience or maybe to just relax and enjoy some music Techgage reviews the Ultrasone HFI-700 Headphones.  Also in the  gaming department we have the Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard from EverythingUSB and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) reviewed by DVHardware.  Closing out today's roundup is the Corsair Flash Padlock at RBMods.

GMC Noblesse AVC-S7 Slimline HTPC Case @ OCModShop
Patriot Memory PC3-15000 (1866 MHz) DDR3 @ TweakTown
NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS 512MB @ Tech ARP
Danger Den NVIDIA 4101 H20 Water Cooling Kit @ Madshrimps
Scythe Infinity SCINF-1000 Heatsink @ FrostyTech
Ultrasone HFI-700 Headphones @ Techgage
Thermalright HR-11 Videocard Backside Cooler @ Tweaknews
ASUS EN8800GT TOP 512MB @ Bjorn3D
SilverStone Temjin TJ10 @ ViperLair
Corsair Flash Padlock @ RBMods
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii) @ DVHardware
Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard @ EverythingUSB

Razer Boomslang CE 2007

Category: Input Devices
Posted: December 11, 2007 02:16PM
Author: Carl Dunham

Razer -

Looking for that unique gift this Holiday Season? Well you can't get much more unique than limited edition and thats just what Razer is offering with the Boomslang CE 2007. Only 10,000 of these mice will be available for purchase as a tribute to the Boomslang, Razer's first mouse launched in 1999. You don't just get a mouse for the $100 price tag you also get, premium packaging, numbered collectors card, protective black tin for transportation, driver disk, introductory guide and a master guide. So if your looking for a great mouse for gaming that just screams unique take a look at the Razer Boomslang CE 2007.

Hardware Roundup: Thursday Edition

Category: Video Cards, Motherboards, CPU's, Cases, Power Supplies, Input Devices, CPU Cooling
Posted: December 6, 2007 05:17AM
Author: Dale Shuck

This morning brings us a lot of goodies from around the web so let's get started.  There are several mouse/keyboard offerings up today beginning with the Razer Lachesis Mouse & Lycosa keyboard from 3dGameMan.  Virtual-Hideout reviews the Logitech G9 gaming mouse and TweakTown looks at a mouse with a little something different to offer - the Sandio 3D Game O2.  In the power supply arena we have the Antec NeoPower 650 Blue from Bjorn3D and if that's not enough juice for your system, take a look at ThinkComputers' review of the Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W modular power supply.  If a new video card is on your Christmas wish list then the Sparkle GeForce 8600 GTS at Tech ARP is worth a look.  [H] puts the ASUS Maximus Formula motherboard through its paces and we see how the latest entry in their Republic of Gamers lineup stacks up.  Over at Overclockers Online we're treated to a member review of the DFI LANParty DK P35 T2RS board.  Neoseeker reviews the AMD Athlon 64 5000+ X2 Black Edition and concludes it is a worthy upgrade for existing AM2 systems.  To keep it all cool, FrostyTech has the Coolermaster Hyper 212 heatsink and finds it ranks right up there with some of the best.  Then we get to head back on over to TweakTown for the Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooler.  The folks at Madshrimps have the Thermaltake Mozart case on the stand today (you can also see OCC's own look at building an entertainment system using the Thermal Mozart as well).  We wrap things up today with something a little different – the Caffeine Showdown from GideonTech.

Sparkle GeForce 8600 GTS Graphics Card @ Tech ARP
Antec NeoPower 650 Blue @ Bjorn3D
ASUS Maximus Formula @ [H]ardocp
Caffeine Showdown @ GideonTech
Thermaltake Mozart Tx Dual-ATX Tower Case @ Madshrimps
Razer Lachesis Mouse & Lycosa Keyboard  @ 3dGameMan
DFI LANParty DK P35 T2R/S @ Overclockers Online
Coolermaster Hyper 212 Heatsink @ FrostyTech
AMD Athlon 64 5000+ X2 Black Edition @ Neoseeker
Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Modular Power Supply @ ThinkComputers.org
Logitech G9 Laser Gaming Mouse @ Virtual-Hideout
Sandio's 3D Mouse - Game 02 @ TweakTown
Thermaltake V1 CPU Cooler @ TweakTown

Hardware Roundup Tuesday Morning Edition

Category: Video Cards, Cases, Input Devices, Speakers/Headphones, CPU Cooling
Posted: October 8, 2007 10:37PM
Author: kingdingeling

It's the time of day again for our OCC Affiliate Reviews. Looking around the net today, the OCModShop has articles of three new Razer products, the Lachesis 4000 DPI mouse, the Piranha Gaming Headset, and the successor of the Tarantula, the Lycosa Keyboard. The perfect combination for your peripherals when building a new rig. But what do you want to put into that rig? How about an Albatron 8600GTS, reviewed over at LAN Addict? As a case, the Antec Veris - Fusion Black 430 HTPC case might appeal to those with space constraints. Darkvision Hardware has the new heatsink from OCZ up for review, the long-awaited Vendetta.

- Razer Lachesis Gaming Mouse Hands-On @ OCModShop
- Razer Piranha Gaming Headset Hands-On @ OCModShop
- Razer Lycosa Gaming Keyboard Hands-On @ OCModShop
- OCZ Vendetta HSF Review @ Darkvision Hardware
- Albatron 8600GTS Video Card Review @ LAN Addict
- Antec Veris - Fusion Black 430 HTPC Case Review @ MektuMods

OCC News: Razer Launches the Lachesis 4000DPI Gaming Mouse

Category: Input Devices, OCC News
Posted: August 23, 2007 09:42PM
Author: Dale Shuck

OverclockersClub -

The Bushmaster snake is the largest pit viper in the world.  Highly venomous, it is well deserving of its Latin name, Lachesis muta muta, which literally translates as "Bringer of Silent Death".  Razer has adopted the Latin version of the name for its new high-precision 3G gaming mouse.  Utilizing the Razer 3G laser sensor, the Lachesis provides true hardware 4000DPI sensitivity and tracking speeds up to 100 inches per second.  Continuing the tradition begun with its earlier line of gaming mice, the Lachesis features an ambidexterous form factor and ruberized non-slip matte finish for those heated FPS gaming sessions.  Combined with nine programmable buttons and on-the-fly sensitivity switching, the Lachesis could be the added edge you've been looking for.

"None of the DPI numbers on our mice are interpolated figures, which other mouse makers’ achieve by enabling tweaking of the software included with their mice. Our DPI specifications are all hardware-based, which essentially means what you see is what you get – true DPI," said Robert “Razerguy” Krakoff, president of Razer. "We’ve also included two more buttons right below the scroll wheel with which gamers can cycle through pre-determined DPI stages. We’ve heard the communities’ requests for true on-the-fly DPI switching and we’ve designed the Razer Lachesis to make it possible."