Apple should sell Windows PCs

ITALIAN website Hardwareupgrade.it introduces us to the Apple Mac Mini featuring the Dual Core. It continue to puzzle me how only Apple can come out with such sublime designs. Even after a decade or so since the iMac saw the light, computer manufacturers still can't emulate Apple's designs. Under its hood, you find a T2500 Dual core chip, GbE, a DVD writer, a Sigmatel HDA sound solution and so much more. Plus you het a remote control. Should Apple release a Windows computer, you can be sure that it will be a sure winner.

PlanetX64 tests the Silverstone Lascala SST-LC17-B HTPC enclosure. This one is a pleasant departure from what Planet X64 considers as a flood of cheap, nasty and ugly cubes. A thoroughly distinct product that speaks luxury language down to the manual. It has loads of space inside, can accommodate up to six HDD and there's even room for two optical drives. But that's not all, the front ports are hidden in order to be even more posh. But it is pricey.

Techconnect checked the Windows 2003 XP conversion pack, which is some kind of upgrade to WIndows Server 2003 it seems. Basically, the guide shows you how to convert the raw Windows 2003 server with SP1 to a more bling bling version like Windows XP with some more addons and a few more features like Drive-Auto mounting, Firewall and Windows Image acquisition. Of course all the changes are reversible and the conversion pack is free.

Firingsquad tests five Radeon X1900XTX video cards coming from the main manufacturers out there. Asus, MSI, ATI, Powercolor and Sapphire. Firingsquad considers factors such as software bundle, pricing and warranty since the cards have the same kind of GPU. Overclocking is more or less constant across the board, adding a few FPS here and there. Powercolor has its cards supported by lifetime warranty. Pricewise, Sapphire is the one to go for. But at the end of the day, it might save you some doh to look over the fence to Nvidia or to the X1900XT.

Digit-life has a three parts article dedicated to heat piped cooler models. Models from all well known manufacturers are present. Coolermaster, Glacialtech, Thermaltake, Titan and Zalman amongst others. Heatpipe based solutions are based gppd heat dissipators and are silent; a prerequisite for a best-seller. The article also covers hybrid solutions with low speed fans. With copper and aluminium as the most common building materials, a good design is paramount to efficient cooling. The best models are the Scythe Shogun and the Zalman CNPS 9500 LED.

Extremetech reviews the ideazon MERC gaming keyboard which is a keyboard that has an integrated gaming area. It is cheap and includes 34 gaming keys on its left hand side. As you might guess, it is a programmable keyboard, with macros and new drivers already available. Unfortunately, it caters only for righties leaving left hand gamers out of the equation. The MERC is saved by its software and while it is bigger than the average keyboard, at least your fingers won't get cramped. µ