Lacie

Lacie Hard Disk Specs:

• Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.6 x 1.8 inches
• Weight: 2.2 lbs
• Capacity: 1 TB
• Speed (RPM): 7200 RPM
• Read/Write Speed (USB): 25 MBps / 19 MBps
• Read/Write Speed (FireWire 400): 29 MBps / 10 MBps
• Read/Write Speed (eSATA): 35 MBps / 37 MBps
• Ports: USB 2.0, FireWire 400, eSATA
• Price: $160.00

Review:

The Lacie Hard Disk has a superb design which is very stylish. It has a glossy black look with flat surfaces and looks straight out of some sci-fi movie. It is a finger print magnet though. It has dimensions of 7.6 x 4.6 x 1.8 inches – a bit bulky and weighs about 2.2 lbs. It comes with USB, eSATA and Firewire 400 ports for connectivity. It also sports vents to keep the drive cool. The build quality is pretty good and should last long.

The Lacie Hard Disk sports three connectivity interfaces – USB 2.0, Firewire 400 and eSATA. The read / write speeds are pretty nice in all of them. It offers read speeds of 25 MBps and write speeds of 19 MBps in USB 2.0, 29 MBps and 10 MBps in Firewire 400 and 35 MBps and 37 MBps in eSATA mode. Most of the speeds are very good in this range, but the Firewire 400 write speed isn’t very impressive. 10 MBps is very mediocre compared to the speeds offered by other drives in this range. The eSATA speeds are superb.

The Lacie Hard Drive comes bundled with Lacie Backup software which enables you to backup your data instantly with a click to the Lacie Hard Drive. It also allows you to create custom partitions. It is also compatible with all major OSes – Windows XP / Vista, OS X and Linux. However there is no encryption software to protect your data.

Pros:

• Nice Design
• USB, eSATA, Firewire 400
• Superb eSATA Speeds

Cons:

• Low Firewire 400 Write Speeds
• No Encryption

Our Rating: 4 / 5.

Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD Specs:

• Dimensions: 7.2 x 7.0 x 1.2 inches
• Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Video Output: Composite, S-video, Component
• Audio Output: Stereo, Coaxial S/PDIF
• Supported Formats:
• Video: MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB/ISO), MPEG-4 (AVI/DivX /Xvid)
• Subtitles: SAMI(smi), SRT and SUB
• Video resolutions: NTSC 480i/480p; PAL 576i/576p, supports video (HD and upscaling) up to 720p/1080i
• Audio: MP3, AC3 (5.1 audio – Dolby Digital) WMA, WAV, OGG
• Photo: JPEG files up to 20 megapixels
• Price: $279 with a 500GB FreeAgent GO Drive

Review:

The Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD has a very nice design and looks very good in black. It has a glossy black lid which is a fingerprint magnet. It is pretty portable with dimensions of just 7.2 x 7.0 x 1.2 inches and a weight of about 1.6 pounds. Just besides the HDD port, you find lots of buttons for navigation, power, menu options and play/pause controls. It also sports a Infrared port for the remote, a button to eject the FreeAgent drive and a USB drive to attach other devices. It comes with a lot of connectivity ports. It has Composite, S-video, Component video outputs, compatible with almost all TVs. It does miss out on HD though.

To setup the Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD, just install the bundled software on your PC, connect the FreeAgent Go drive to your PC and sync the media to the drive. The bundled remote is very easy to use and provides most of the basic features. The interface of the Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD is intuitive and very responsive.

The Seagate FreeAgent Theater HD supports a lot of multimedia formats and a wide range of resolutions. It can play the MPEG-1, MPEG-2 (AVI/VOB/ISO), MPEG-4 (AVI/DivX /Xvid) video formats, the MP3, AC3 (5.1 audio – Dolby Digital) WMA, WAV, OGG audio formats and supports resolutions upto 720P/1080i. It can also display JPEG image files. The display quality is superb when coupled with a good display and there is no lag. The sound quality is equally amazing as Theater HD supports Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Supports Many Formats

Cons:

• No Support for AAC, WMV, DRM

Our Rating: 3.5 / 5.

Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi XD95U Specs:

• Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.5 x 3.1 inches
• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
• Contrast Ratio: 500:1 to 1000:1
• Brightness: 2200 ANSI Lumens
• Projector Type: DLP
• Video Input: S-Video, Component Video, Composite Video
• Supported Formats: 1080i, 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, M-PAL, N-PAL, NTSC, PAL, PAL60, SECAM
• Image Engine: 0.55-inch DMD
• Zoom Focus: 1.1:1

Review:

The Mitsubishi XD95U has a nice design and is totally suited for office settings. It is one of the most compact projectors on the market with dimensions of just about 8.1 x 7.5 x 3.1 inches. It weighs about 3.3 pounds which makes it very portable. Together with the remote control and the connecting cables included, it weighs less than 4 pounds. The build quality is very good and the projector feels sturdy. It should easily last for a couple of years.

It supports 3 types of inputs – S-Video, Component Video and Composite Video. It doesn’t have any speakers. It comes with a nice remote control which supports only the basic stuff. The Mitsubishi XD95U is a bit noisy, but you can tone that down by switching to the low power mode. The XD95U has a rated brightness level of 2200 ANSI Lumens and the actual brightness levels are actually a bit more. It has a contrast ratio of about 620:1 which is superb. The display quality is exceptional with very accurate color reproduction. The projected image size is pretty big even at a close range. It supports most of the popular formats like 1080i, 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, M-PAL, N-PAL, NTSC, PAL, PAL60 and SECAM. It is ideal for quality presentations with a large audience. It has a cooldown time of about 1 min 40 secs which is pretty long.

The Mitsubishi XD95U is a good option for those wanting an affordable projector with good features. But it certainly is not the best, there are many other options available like the Dell M209X.

Pros:

• Compact
• Nice Brightness
• Superb Contrast

Cons:

• Primitive Remote Control
• Noisy

Our Rating: 3 / 5.

PlanOn Printstik PS910 Specs:

• Dimensions: 11.0 x 1.9 x 1.0 inches
• Weight: 700 grams
• Print Resolution: 200×100 dpi, 200×200 dpi, 200×400 dpi
• Interfaces: USB 2.0, Bluetooth
• Print Speed: 102 pages per minute
• Print Method: Direct Thermal
• Battery Type: Lithium Polymer

Review:

The PlanOn Printstik PS910 is very compact, and truly portable at dimensions of just about 11.0 x 1.9 x 1.0 inches. It is also relatively very light at just about 700 grams. It sports a nice black and silver design which is suited for office use. The design is very appealing and stylish. It is very easy to operate, you have buttons on the front to power on / off the printer and eject the paper and LEDs to indicate the printer’s battery life and status. Sheets of paper are rolled up inside the Printstik PS910; it has a capacity of about 20 sheets. It also doesn’t support standard paper, only special rolled paper cartridges which add a recurring cost.

It is powered by a built in battery which can manage about 30 prints before dying out. YOu can also directly connect it using the AC adapter or to a cigarette lighter slot. It can be used by Bluetooth or the USB 2.0 interface. It is compatible with all Windows OSes and some smartphones as well – Blackberry and PocketPC. This is a very nice feature, considering you can print documents directly from your smartphone.

It has a very slow printing speed of just about 1-2 pages per minute, and event he quality isn’t much to speak of. I would strictly recommend using it for just emergency printing, it is neither fast nor good in terms of speed or quality. It is also pretty noisy.

Pros:

• Portable
• Battery Powered

Cons:

• Slow, Noisy
• Mediocre Print Quality
• Expensive Paper Cartridges

Our Rating: 2.5 / 5.

Kensington Ci95m Specs:

• Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.4 x 1.0 inches
• Weight: 100 grams
• Battery: up to 6 months
• Price: $30

Review:

The Kensington Ci95m Wireless has a very nice design and is composed mainly of gray and black. IT has a rubberized covering to provide a good grip. It can be switched off by the flick of a switch. It comes with a tiny nano receiver which is placed beneath the detachable lid. The build quality is very nice and the mouse is ergonomic and comfortable. The buttons have a distinct click and the scroll wheel is very smooth.

To install the mouse, just plug in the nano receiver into any USB port of your PC or notebook and insert two AA batteries under the lid of the Kensington Ci95 to power it. The batteries last about 6-7 months with moderate usage.  It works with all major OSes. It is very sensitive and nicely accurate – the accuracy is not as much as the gaming mouses by Razor or Logitech though. The price is what makes the Kensington Ci95m Wireless Mouse very appealing – it is priced very low at just about $30. It is one of the best wireless mouses you will get in that price. Another option you should consider is the Logitech V550 which offers better quality at just $20 more.

Pros:

• Nice and Compact
• Nano Receiver
• Inexpensive

Cons:

• At this price, none

Our Rating: 3.5 / 5.

Patriot Xporter XT Boost Specs:

• Dimensions: 2.9 x 0.8 x 0.4 inches
• Weight: 0.5 ounces
• Capacity: 16 GB / 32 GB
• Speeds – Read / Write: 22 MBps / 12 MBps
• Price: $30 (16 GB)

Review:

The Patriot Xporter XT Boost has a rather boxy design isn’t stylish at all. There is no design to speak of, just a black rubberized body. The name and logo are nicely imprinted on the body in red. The build quality is pretty nice. It feels very durable and sturdy. It has dimensions of 2.9 x 0.8 x 0.4 inches. While it is relatively bulky compared to the super slim pen drives available, it is perhaps amongst the most compact in its category. It is much smaller than the Corsair Flash Survivor. It weighs just about 14 grams. It also comes with a USB extension cable.

It has very nice read / write speeds. It can read data at 22 MBps and write data at 12 MBps. It is amongst the fastest USB drives. It takes about 173 seconds to write a 2 GB file to the Xporter XT Boost and about half that time to copy one from it. This is about all it has to offer, it doesn’t provide any advanced features like portable application suites, backup softwares or encryption. It is totally compatible with Windows Vista’s Ready Boost feature. All in all, it is a very nice option if you need a durable USB drive with good read / write speeds which can accompany you on your outdoor trips. It is available in 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB versions with the 16 GB version priced at $30.

Pros:

• Durable
• Fast Read / Write Speeds

Cons:

• No Extras

Our Rating: 3.5 / 5.

TomTom ONE 125 specifications :

• Dimensions : 3.8″ x 1″ x 3.2″
• Weight : 6.1 oz
• Connectivity : USB
• Antenna : Built-in
• Display : 3.5″ TFT with 320 x 240 resolution
• Maps included : USA
• Warranty : 1-year
• Approx. price : $99

The price tag is one of the major reasons why this device has the potential to become a best seller. It has a decent 3.5″ display, basic navigation features and solid performance that most of the users require. It might not have text-to-speech or the large 4.3″ display but it does have solid performance to boast about.

The device has a simple and compact design with smooth corners and is quite thin at just 1″. The back side is fully occupied by the large speaker. The 3.5″ TFT display on front has a resolution of 320 x 240 and support 65k colors. The display clarity is good and maps can be viewed equally good in daylight as well at night. The user-interface on the device is intuitive which has always been the case with TomTom devices. The icons are large and the settings have been neatly organised for quick access. The interface has two main menu pages for accessing the features on the device.

The on-screen keyboard is smaller due to 3.5″ screen size and hence typos are inevitable. You can change to ABC format if you prefer it over the QWERTY version. It also has predictive text to make input easier. There is also a smaller keyboard to choose but that is pretty much useless.

TomTom ONE 125 uses EasyPort vehicle mount for mounting the device in the vehicle. Along with it, USB cable, car charger and manuals are bundled. The EasyPort vehicle mount isn’t very secure and the device can fall if jerked strongly. Maps of USA come preloaded on the device and you can enter your destination by address, city center or zip code. It also has pedestrian and bicycle modes.

Maps can be viewed in both 2D and 3D modes. The device supports turn-by-turn directions, but no text-to-speech functionality as mentioned above. The performance of the device is great and it locks with satellite in a couple of minutes from cold start. It does not lose signal even when driven through narrow lanes.

Pros :

• Simple design
• Good performance
• Inexpensive

Cons :

• No text-to-speech functionality
• Smaller display
• Insecure vehicle mount

Final Thoughts

TomTom ONE 125 is an excellent device for first timers as well as for anyone looking for a cheap but good GPS navigation system. It works well and has all the basic features that one would need.

Rating : 4/5

Corsair Flash Survivor Specs:

• Dimensions: 3.3 x 0.9 x 0.9 inches
• Weight: 46 grams
• Capacity: 16 GB
• Read / Write Speeds: 24 MBps / 5 MBps
• Price: $48 (Approx)

Review:

The Corsair Flash Survivor is built like a tank – it is relatively a bit huge at dimensions of 3.3 x 0.9 x 0.9 inches. It also weighs much more than any other USB drive at about 46 gms. It’s cylindrical body is composed of anodized aircraft grade aluminium. The body is very sturdy and durable. It also has a rubber shock dampening collar near each edge which protects it from shocks or impacts. It is also water resistant upto 200M thanks to an EPDM waterproof seal. The design may not be very appealing, but the build quality is excellent. It can accompany you on all your outdoor trips without you having to worry about the data being lost.

The Corsair Flash Survivor has superb read speeds. It can read and copy a 2 GB file in approximately 86 seconds which means a read speed of about 24 MBps. This is very good considering its price, it is much more than the category average. However, in complete contrast, the write speeds are abysmally low – it writes a 2 GB file in about 6 mins and 40 secs – an average write speed of 5.12 MBps. This is much lower than the category average. It doesn’t include any other features like encryption or any backup software. It does come with a 10 year limited warranty.

Pros:

• Superb Build Quality
• Great Read Speeds

Cons:

• Bulky
• Low Write Speeds

Our Rating: 3 / 5.

Toshiba TDP PX10 Specs:

• Size: 8.3 x 6.5 x 2.6 inches
• Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Resolution: 1024 x 768 pixels
• Contrast Ratio: 500:1
• Brightness: 2000 Lumens
• Image Engine: 0.55″ DMD DLP chip
• Supported Formats: 1080i, 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, DVD, NTSC, PAL, SECAM
• Speakers: Single 2 Watt speaker
• Input: Audio-In, Composite Video, RGB-In, S-Video

Review:

The Toshiba TDP PX10 has a very nice design which is perfectly suited to a business environment. It has the standard black silver combo look which is preferred by most offices. The build quality is very nice with great durability. With proper usage, it should easily last for 2-3 years. It is very compact with dimensions of just about 8.3 x 6.5 x 2.6 inches. Additionally, it weighs just 2.9 pounds which makes it a perfect choice for a portable projector.

It comes with a handy remote which is very easy to use and very functional. It provides slide show navigation with features like a laser pointer and more. It also supports USB drives and can display JPG images as a slideshow directly. The display quality of the TDP PX10 is very nice. The brightness levels are very good – 1450 lumens and the contrast is also decent – about 180:1, both though are way lower than the advertised levels. The colors are very real and vibrant. It has a cooldown time of about 1 min 20 secs which is a letdown. It runs pretty cool, partly thanks to its loud cooling fan. It also has a low power mode to save power in which the brightness levels are lowered. It supports all the standard formats like 1080i, 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, DVD, NTSC, PAL, SECAM.

Pros:

• Nice Design
• Compact
• Built in USB

Cons:

• Low Contrast
• Noisy Fan

Our Rating: 3 / 5.

Kingston

Kingston Data Traveler HyperX Specs:

• Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches
• Weight: 12 gms
• Capacity: 8 GB, 16 GB, 32 GB
• Read / Write Speeds: 26 MBps / 16 MBps
• Price: $40 – 8 GB

Review:

The Kingston Data Traveler HyperX sports a standard design which isn’t very stylish but isn’t bad looking either. It has dimensions of 2.8 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches and weighs just around 12 gms which is amongst the lightest. The body is composed mainly of blue and black rubber and brushed metal. It is very sturdy and will easily last about 3-4 years without a sign of wear and tear. It comes with a sliding USB connector which retracts back into the body, which is very preferable as you don’t have to keep searching for lost caps.

TheKingston Data Traveler HyperX comes in capacities of 8 GB, 16 GB and 32 GB – the standard sizes available. It is a very fast drive offering superb read / write speeds – about 26 MBps and 16 MBps respectively. It takes just about 2 minutes and 12 seconds to write a 2 GB file, which matches the claimed speeds accurately. It is compatible with all 3 major OSes – Windows XP / Vista, Mac OS X and Linux. It also is Windows Vista Ready Boost compatible. It comes with a 5 year warranty. It is a great option for those looking for a fast drive at an affordable cost.

Pros:

• Very Fast
• Durable

Cons:

• No Backup Software

Our Rating: 4 / 5.

Sandisk

Sandisk Extreme Cruzer Contour Specs:

• Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.9 x 0.3 inches
• Weight: 29 gms
• Capacity: 4 GB / 8 GB / 16 GB
• Read / Write Speeds: 25 MB/sec, 18 MB/sec

Review:

The Sandisk Extreme Cruzer Contour sports a superb, ultra stylish design that should appeal to most users. It has a sleek build and has a nice glossy black finish. The body is composed of metal which lends it a sturdy feel. It has a unique locking sliding mechanism so you don’t need to worry about lost caps anymore. The Sandisk Extreme Cruzer Contour looks elegant and is much better than other cheap looking USB drives. When plugged in, the blyue LED lights up which looks nice. It should easily last you for years. The locking mechanism is quite nice and feels sturdy. It is very compact with dimensions of just 2.8 x 0.9 x 0.3 inches and weighs less than 30 gms.

The Sandisk Extreme Cruzer Contour is super fast and sports excellent read / write speeds. The official speeds are 25 MB/sec and 18 MB/sec respectively and the actual figures are quite close to them. It is amongst the fastest USB drives. It has write speeds of about 14 MBps and read speeds of 22 MBps.

The Extreme Cruzer Contour sports all the regular features like USB 2.0 support, compatibility with Windows Vista ReadyBoost and the U3 software. You can install and run applications directly off the USB drive. The U3 software is compatible only with Windows though, not with Mac or Linux. It comes with a Lifetime limited Warranty. It also has 256 bit AES hardware encryption support. It comes with the following applications preloaded – CruzerSync – Desktop synchronisation tool, SignupShield – Password manager, SKYPE – PC to PC video and audio calls, McAfee 30 day trial, Sudoku / Mahjong.

Pros:

• Stylish Design
• Fast Speeds
• U3 Software

Cons:

• None

Our Rating: 4 / 5.

NEC NP200 Specs:

• Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.1 x 3.3 inches
• Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Native Resolution: 1024 x 768 (XGA)
• Contrast Ratio: 1300:1
• Brightness: 2100 ANSI lumens
• Imaging Engine: 0.55-inch DLP chip
• Lamp: 180 W
• Input: Component Video, Composite Video, S-Video, VGA
• Supported Formats: 1080i, 480i, 480p, 576i, 576p, 720p, PAL, NTSC, SECAM, SVGA, SXGA, VGA, XGA.
• Price: $550 (Approx)

Review:

The new NEC NP200 is the improved version of the NEC NP100, with better features and a slight bump in the price. It looks very similar to the NEC NP100 and is about the same size and weight too. It has dimensions of 10.7 x 8.1 x 3.3 inches and weighs about 5.8 pounds. The simplistic white design should suit all types of offices. The build quality is sturdy and durable, and should easily last for a couple of years.

In place of the projector’s control panel, there lies a detachable remote that can be used to access the menu. However, it is the only way you can use the menu to alter the settings, a separate control panel and remote would have been much more preferable.

The NEC NP200 supports a lot of formats and resolutions. It can also accept input signals through various ports like Component Video, Composite Video, S-Video, VGA. It has a very nice lamp that gives you excellent valur for money and also lasts very long – about 4000+ hrs in the power saving mode.

The NEC NP200 has excellent brightness levels – it has a rated brightness of 2100 ANSI lumens and deviates just slightly towards the lower side. It has a standard DLP engine and has a contrast ratio of about 1300:1. The display quality is very good and clear with no distortion. The brightness levels are quite nice even in the power saving ECO mode.

Pros:

• Affordable
• Nice Brightness, Contrast
• Great Display Quality

Cons:

• No Separate Control Panel

Our Rating: 4.5 / 5.

Sony NV-U84 specifications :

• Dimensions : 5.9″ x 0.8″ x 3.4″
• Weight : 8.8 oz
• Display : 4.8″ LCD with 480 x 272 resolution
• Connectivity : Hi-Speed USB
• Antenna : Built-in
• Features : Inbuilt speaker, Text-to-speech, 2D/3D maps,
  Optional hands-free calling via bluetooth, built-in mic
• Maps included : USA, Canada, Puerto Rico
• Card slot : Memory Stick Duo
• Other features : JPEG support, photo viewer, touch screen
• Approx. price : $350

The first thing to be noticed about this GPS system is its huge 4.8″ display that supports touchscreen input. The bezel is quite thick and takes up considerable space taking the dimensions to the higher side. There are only a handful buttons on the device. The top of the device has the button for power/slider switch while the button has the memory card slot, headphone jack and the charging port.

Super Suction Cup system is used to mount the system in the car. The sticky suction cup is easy to install and is held securely in place by its vacuum system, so there are no worries of it falling down. Removing the thing isn’t an easy task and requires a considerable amount of force. The device can be used without the cradle but the internal battery life is just about average at around 2.5 hours on a single charge.

The display is amazing and the 4.8″ LCD touchscreen has crisp graphics and it works well in both day and night. The menu interface makes use of the large display effectively. Sony has categorized the menu in three tabs : Navigation, Application and Settings. The first and last are self-explanatory and the Application tab has extra features such as photo viewer, traffic information etc. hidden inside it.

The navigation tab shows your current location and allows you to plan your trip by entering addresses or POIs etc. The device supports gestures to accept input. Drawing circles clockwise or anti-clockwise zooms in or out of the map. It supports other gestures too that can be handy to quickly accomplish tasks. The settings tab has all the various settings dumped in a long list that makes a time taking task to find the one you need. Its best not to tinker around with that tab while driving unless you are caught in a traffic jam!

You can backup the map and voice data via USB using the NAV-U tool but its far from efficient when compared to other GPS manufacturers that offer the same feature. Data such as bookmarks and destinations can be edited too using the tool. Position Plus is an excellent feature that enhances the accuracy of the GPS. It uses accelerometer and inbuilt barometer to assist in finding the accurate location when the satellite reception is weak. This can come in great use when passing through an tunnel that would have no GPS reception but the device can still pin point your location using the Position Plus feature.

The speaker is located at the back, not a good place to put them on a car GPS system but the speaker on Sony NV-U84 makes up with its loud volume that reads out text-to-speech instructions clearly. The NV-U84 does not have traffic antenna built-in which is utterly disappointing considering the high price of the device. One needs to spend extra for the antenna as well as subscription. It is cheaper to upgrade to Sony NV-U94T that comes inbuilt with the traffic antenna and costs only $50 extra.

The device has inbuilt JPEG image viewer that uses the Memory Stick Duo card slot to store images along with other files. The device does not have hands-free bluetooth capability too. The device can announce street names on the go. The map switches to dual view when approaching an intersection to show detailed view of upcoming turn. In dual view the map shows the distance remaining to the turn. When driving on highways, the device switches to 3D mode when approaching an exit to tell the lane the driver should be in.

The performance of the device is good but startup time is slow. It takes about 5 minutes to get the satellite lock and subsequent starts takes about a minute. The reception is great even when driving through tall buildings. Punching in locations is easy via the touchscreen QWERTY keyboard. The auto-complete feature suggests name of streets, places after punching in a few characters but the results are displayed on a new screen which eats up time. Also the accuracy is spotty as it works accurately not all the time. The list of POIs is extensive and includes all the popular places. You can turn off a particular set of POIs if you do not require them or the map gets too cluttered for your liking. Recalculations works well and it is quick to realize if the route has changed and recalculates in a matter of seconds. Overall the device does a good job.

Pros :

• Great display
• Good performance
• Loud speaker
• Position Plus feature
• Inbuilt JPEG viewer

Cons :

• No inbuilt traffic viewer
• No buletooth hands-free
• Slow startup time
• Overpriced

Final Thoughts

The Sony NV-U84 is a decent offering from Sony but it does not justify the high price. The device has a big gorgeous display that displays maps perfectly. The speaker on the device is loud enough even though it is located at the back. However, the device neither has inbuilt traffic viewer nor bluetooth to justify the high price. The startup time is slow but otherwise performance is good. Position Plus feature is a big boost and should be seen in future devices as well. Auto-complete feature although good isn’t accurate often. If you aren’t concerned about live traffic conditions and want a big display, then this device fits you perfectly.

Rating : 3/5

Parrot

Parrot Minikit Slim Specs:

• Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches
• Weight: 2.9 ounces
• Connectivity: Bluetooth
• Included Accessories: Car charger, USB cable
• Price: $90

Review:

The Parrot Minikit Slim sports a simple design and is very compact. It has dimensions of 4.3 x 2.4 x 1.1 inches and weighs less than 3 ounces. It isn’t likely to take up much space in your car, which is very essential in a speakerphone kit. It can be mounted on the visor which saves up valuable dashboard space. The build quality is very nice and durable. The Minikit Slim should last you for years. It is composed mostly of black rubber which lends some of its durability to it. It can easily blend in with your car interiors. The black and silver combo looks very appealing.

It is very easy to use and has few controls. It has a knob in the front at the center flanked by two buttons- the green Call / Answer key and the red End key. It also has a small clip on the back using which you can attach it to the visor. To use the Minikit Slim, just switch it on, pair it with your mobile phone and you are set to go. You can make calls directly from the Minikit Slim by pressing the Green button and saying the contact’s name you wish to call. The voice recognition is pretty nice and works most of the times.

The sound quality on the Parrot Minikit Slim is very clear and nice. It uses vibrating panel technology to provide great sound. The built in microphone also has nice quality. The volume levels of the speaker are a bit low though. The Minikit Slim can last for about 2 hrs and 20 mins easily. It also has a decent standby time. It comes with a car charger for ease of charging. All in all, it is a nice option for those who need an affordable hands free car kit, but are bored of using regular bluetooth headsets.

Pros:

• Compact, Slim
• Easy to use
• Nice Sound

Cons:

• Low volume

Our Rating: 3 / 5.

Bose

Bose Quiet Comfort 3 Specs:

• Dimensions: 5.3 in x 7.4 in
• Weight: 5.6 oz
• Battery Power: 3.7 VDC, 200 mAh

Review:

The Bose Quiet Comfort 3 are the successors to the Quiet Comfort 2 headphones. They have a leaner design and look much better. They are also much lighter and compact. They have dimensions of 5.3 in x 7.4 in and weigh just about 5.6 oz. The Quiet Comfort 3 are very comfortable and feel nice on your ears. There are leather pads on the earpieces which makes the fit extremely well. The headphones look quite great in black and silver. The foam used in the earpieces helps in the passive noise cancellation, which when coupled with the active noise cancellation, offers the best in its category.

The sound quality is absolutely awesome and the volume levels just perfect. The noise cancellation blocks out any external noise and provides you a superb sonic experience. The sound is all balanced throughout the spectrum. The sound quality is rich and is suited for all sorts of music. It is aimed at the audiophile crowd and can very well manage to please them. It comes with a Lithium Ion battery which can power the headphones for about 22-24 hours on a full charge. It comes with all the customary manuals and user guides to get you started.

Pros:

• Great Sound Quality
• Superior Noise Cancellation

Cons:

• Slightly Expensive

Our Rating: 4 / 5.

Motorola TN30 Car GPS specifications :

• Dimensions : 4.8″ x 0.7″ x 3.2″
• Weight : 6 oz
• Display : 4.3″ LCD with 480 x 272 resolution
• Speaker : Built-in
• Card slot : SD card slot
• Estimated battery life : 2.5 hours
• Bluetooth : Yes, integrated
• Approx. price : $250

Although the major structural design of the device is similar to its competitors, but the color sceheme and the curves make it looks different from the rest. It has an all black bezel and extra smooth curves with the shining Motorola logo at the top. The right side of the device has the SD card slot and the mini-USB slot. The left side is empty while the bottom has a recessed button for reset.

The interface layout has been well thought out. The home screen is simple and houses all the shortcut options to various functions of the device. The device has various options for entering the addresses, points of interest etc. The Call button takes you to the call screen that can be used to make calls.

The map buttons brings up the map of your current location. The map button has a shortcut button on almost every screen for quick access to your current location. The right side of the screen has been reserved for zooming function, accepting calls and displaying various information such as battery charge, bluetooth connection etc.

The speaker built in to the device is pretty much average and just fine for voice directions. Text-to-speech driving directions are enabled on the device. Some of the other features include lane assistance that puts you in correct lane, helpful during complex highways.

The performance of the device is good and it took less than a minute to lock to the satellite. It was accurate and did not lose signal even in narrow lanes. The voice navigated instructions were blurted out on time and recalculation was quick and efficeint. Overall the performance of the device is good.

Pros :

• Great display
• Intuitive menu
• Integrated bluetooth
• Text-to-speech directions
• Good performance

Cons :

• Buggy software
• Less features

Final Thoughts

The Motorola TN30 car GPS does a good job with its limited features. It has integrated bluetooth that can be used to receive calls. The display is good and the menu is intuitive but buggy. The performance of the GPS is good and overall it is a good device to invest in but beware of software glitches.

Rating : 3.75/5

Optoma PK 101 Pico Specs:

• Dimensions: 2.0 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Native Resolution: 480 x 320 pixels
• Brightness: 10 ANSI lumens
• Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
• Image Engine: DLP
• Supported Input: Composite video, Apple iPod
• Price: $399

Review:

The new Optoma PK 101 Pico Pocket Projector is incredibly compact – it has dimensions of just 2.0 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches and weighs just about 4.2 ounces. Most projectors have remote controls bigger than that. It is powered by a DLP image engine. It also includes a rechargeable battery which can power the device for about 1.5 hrs with moderate usage.

One qualm with the Optoma PK 101 Pico Pocket Projector is that it doesn’t have a VGA connector so you can’t connect it to most laptops. It is mainly aimed at iPod users. It works superbly well with iPods and has good display quality. It also offers decent brightness and contrast levels. It also includes a tiny speaker inside the body, which has decent sound output with slightly low volume levels. It is good enough for viewing videos and movies. The color reproduction is amazing for a device this size and with a DLP engine.

Pros:

• Compact
• Nice Display Quality

Cons:

• No VGA
• Only 10 Lumens brightness

Our Rating: 3 / 5.

• Dimensions: 12.9 x 9.6 x 4.0 inches
• Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Resolution: 800 x 600 SVGA
• Contrast Ratio: Upto 2000:1
• Brightness: 2000 ANSI Lumens
• Colors: 16.77 million
• Supported Formats: NTSC / NTSC4.43 / PAL / M-PAL / N-PAL / PAL60 / SECAM
• Sound Output: 1 W (Mono)
• Projection System: Epson 3 LCD, 3-chip technology
• Speakers: 1 x 1-watt
• Interfaces:
  Component video: D-sub 15 pin x 1
  S-video: Mini DIN x 1
  Composite video: RCA (Yellow) x 1
  Audio in: RCA x 1 (White/Red)
  USB connector: Type B x 1 Monitor out: D-sub 15 pin x 1
  Price: $499 (Approx)

Review:

The Epson EX30 has a nice design and is composed mostly of white and gray. It has dimensions of 12.9 x 9.6 x 4.0 inches and weighs around 5.8 pounds. It is a bit heavy compared to other projectors with the same specs but then it is also among the cheapest. The build quality is great and with proper usage, it can easily last for years.

The Epson EX30 has a resolution of 800 x 600 pixels (SVGA) which is sufficient for almost all presentations. It has very nice brightness and contrast levels. The display quality is brilliant and among the best in this range. The images are very clear with no blur. It has a number of input methods so you can connect it easily to almost anything you want. This is one of the best budget LCD projectors ever made. It also has a low power mode in which it consumes less power and runs cooler. It comes with a mini remote control to remotely control your presentations.

Pros:

• Relatively Inexpensive
• Nice Display Quality

Cons:

• A bit Heavy
• No Optical Zoom

Our Rating: 4 / 5.

Navigon 7200T Features:

• Dimensions: 4.6 x 3.2 x 0.8 inches
• Weight: 6.5 ounces
• GPS Chipset: SiRF GRF3 + GPS chip plus Instant Fix II
• Display: 4.3 inches
• Bluetooth: Yes
• Touchscreen: Yes
• USB: Yes
• Price: $449

Features: Landmark View 3D, Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life, Voice Destination Entry, Reality View Pro, NAVIGON Sync, Bluetooth Hands-Free, Advanced Text-to-Speech, ZAGAT Ratings and Reviews, Millions of pre-loaded POIs, DirectHelp, Multi-Destination Trip Planning, Speed Assistant

Review:

The Navigon 7200T has a nice elegant design, it is enclosed in a smooth black body with a stylish rounded look. It looks better than the Navigon 2200T. It has a nice 4.3 inch touchscreen display. It has dimensions of 4.6 x 3.2 x 0.8 inches which is pretty slim and compact. The spacious 4.3 inch display allows for a uncluttered interface, which is easier to use. The user interface is fast and simple, which is a blessing for the technologically challenged. It sports the standard Navigon interface.

You can get destination routes either by typing it in, or by using the Voice Entry option and saying the destination details into the microphone. It also comes with Lane Assistant Pro which tells you which lane to shift into when driving. It also offers free lifetime traffic updates like the Navigon 2200T, which is a superb addition. The 7200T also offers Bluetooth for hands-free calling and a detailed database of Points of Interest – about 2 million. The new interface features a lot of visual extras like displaying some major buildings in 3D, which is nothing but a useless gimmick which doesn’t help at all in navigation.

Pros:

• Large 4.3 inch Touchscreen Display
• Free Lifetime Traffic Updates
• Detailed Maps
• Nice Design

Cons:

• No Extras
• Not Value for Money

Our Rating: 3.5 / 5.

Navigon

Navigon 2200T Features:

• Dimensions: 3.8 x 2.9 x 0.7 inches
• Weight: 4.3 ounces
• Display: 3.5″ Brilliant Touchscreen Display
• GPS Chipset: SiRF GRF3i + GPS chip plus InstantFix II
• USB Connectivity: Yes
• Price: $229.99

Features: Free Real-Time Traffic Updates for Life, Reality View Pro, Ultra-thin and Portable, Under 0.75″ thick, Pre-Loaded Maps of Lower 48 States, Advanced Text-to-Speech, Voice Guidance, Lane Assistant Pro, DirectHelp, Speed Assistant, Multi-Destination Trip Planning, Auto Day/Night Mode, Millions of Preloaded POIs, SiRF InstantFix II GPS Receiver, Smart Speller Destination Entry

Review:

The Navigon 2200T is encased in a compact black body with a nice rounded design which is simple, yet attractive. It sports a 3.5 inch touchscreen display which is quite adequate. The build quality is very nice and the device is sturdy. The touchscreen is nicely sensitive and responsive, which makes it fun to move around that interface. The user interface itself, is very intuitive and requires a very slight learning curve. The home screen has five options – New Destination, My Destinations, Take Me Home, Show Map and Options. You can get route directions to any destination and also back to any location labelled Home. Using the Options menu, we can also check traffic updates – by the way, they are free for life, check your status or customize other settings.

It also offers voice navigation and a auto spellsuggest. The Navigon 2200T includes a detailed database of more than 2 million points of interest. You can update it if you want. The 2200T has good GPS reception and locks down quite fast even from a cold start. The maps look very clear on the display and easy to follow. It doesn’t offer any extras at all, but then you can’t get any better than this in this price range.

Pros:

• Large Touchscreen Display
• Free Lifetime Traffic Updates
• Detailed Maps

Cons:

• No Extras

Our Rating: 4 / 5.