Zune HD gets its day
THE ZUNE HD finally comes into its own, a lot thanks to the Tegra platform, it seems. The new build is smoother, sleeker and more powerful than its predecessor. Things are looking up for Microsoft in the entertainment device department. So long as the pricing is right, right chaps? Inside HW has a review.
Test Freaks has a rather cheap 23-inch LCD on test, the Hannspree HF237HPB. It uses a HDTV-like 1920x1080 panel and doesn’t perform miracles, but then again, this one costs just $145.99.
If you aspire to be a bench tester, Cooler Master has something called the Lab Test Bench, a simple holder for your components and motherboard that lets you swap out bits and pieces very easily. Not very fancy, there are much better solutions out there, but this is as simple as it gets. It's over at TechPowerUp.
Silent PC Review has a couple of mini-ITX cases in the lab. The SEED MA-280 and the Cooler Master Elite 100. Both look like fine HTPC parts, both suffer from power supply issues. The MA-280's 60W supply will only be able to power the weakest of systems, while the butch 150W Elite 100’s power supply is a whiner.
OK, here's something different: Mini PCI SSDs from Active Media. Dubbed the SabreTooth, these will allow you to upgrade your Eee PC from its stock drive (Phison 4GB SSD). Hardware Review has an article on this and SabreTooth trounces the Phison.
Notebook Review has a "cheap" 14-incher from Asus, the K40IN. Its main feature is its low noise and heat, the rest is just scenery. Poor graphics, high price and no HDMI output ruin it, though.
Legit Reviews mixed the HD 5850 and 5870 cards in CrossFire X to see how they performed. Actually it didn't go all that well. The 5870+5850 combo was outgunned by dual 5850s, so it's a bit of a waste, isn't it?
Benchmark Reviews tested the XFX Radeon HD5750 graphics card. This mainstream contender brings DX 11 to the masses and - thankfully - Bruce put things in perspective by facing it off not only with Nvidia cards, but also AMD’s previous generation mainstream cards.
ChileHardware has a review of ECS' P55H-A Black Series motherboard. It’s got a modest price tag, yet delivers fully on performance, at stock settings. Not very overclocker friendly, it seems.
Madshrimps, in its own extreme style, has done a roundup of Core i7 waterblocks. There seem to be lots of good options out there, just find the one that matches your pocket, really.
Sony's VAIO X is on display at Laptop Mag. This is the current generation's definitive on-the-go toy, extremely pricey and still using Atom innards. We wouldn't get one, but we know at least a few dozen people who would. µ
Share this:
ShareBusiness Intelligence Software
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Enterprise Accounting Software
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
Enterprise Systems Management
Quote from story: "Things are looking up for Microsoft in the entertainment device department."
Microsoft has failed dismally in the entertainment device department. The biggest failure for 20 years in IT. An entertainment device is not only a music player, but also a smartphone, as people now want both in their pocket.
Both Zune and Windows Mobile have collapsed in the market place, with WinMo's worldwide sales in complete freefall. Currently 9% and still plummeting. It's an unrecoverable position. It will prevent Microsoft from extending its desktop monopoly into the new era of handheld devices.
Microsoft's next mobile platform, version 7, will apparently combine Zune with Windows Mobile. It is due to ship in 2010. Too late. Android and iPhone have taken the market. The public has thoroughly rejected Windows Mobile + Zune.
This ain't "looking up". This is looking down and falling. Failed platforms from Microsoft.
Are dilusional???
....must have been abused by Microsoft in some way I reckon.
New word on next months Dual gpu cards from ati. 300 Watt or just as guess two 5770 gpu, so won't there be next step up to 59-5 with two 5870 gpu in it?
Neat Thing About Zune, Kids think Its' CELL, sort of. At times of Combo, Walkie Talkie Driver....for Private emergs.
drashek
Microsoft isn't putting much effort into the marketplace apps for the Zune HD but the hardware is very very good. Used my friend's iphone the other day and it just looks cheap and doesn't feel as snappy. The OLED screen on the HD can't be touched and watching movies on the small screen is actually very enjoyable. Development with XNA is a breeze so hopefully the third party stuff will explode, eventually.
The Zune platform in my opinion has always been great all the way up from the zune 30 i would like to point out a few things
1. the ZuneHD is better than the
Competition it's just not popular enough so instead of people running to get zunes they march zombie-like to the apple store
2. To Ken at the top the Zune is a PMP a P-M-P not a pocket computer like the ipod touch and iphone they aren't even in the same category but comparisons of them are inevitable and so the apple fanboys will have no choice but to start flaming (ahem)...
3. nothing is ever "unrecoverable" the big MS just needs to put in a little more work and they'll continue to take over :) ALL HAIL BILL GATES