Have Laptop Will Travel

Great gaming with Bioshock

Originally posted on September 3, 2007 @ 11:44 pm

One of the most hotly anticipated games this year finally shipped out to the public this month. The game is Bioshock. This game has a good lineage behind it. It is considered a spiritual successor to System Shock — considered by many as a seminal game and probably one of the greatest games ever made.

Bioshock is a first person shooter in genre only. Yes, it follows the framework and gameplay style of the FPS. But it is much more than that. This is a game that engages you primarily not with the graphics (although it is pretty) or with the gameplay (which is adequate), it does so by delivering a tight and very interesting story. One that hooks you from the beginning and never lets go. The strange, creepy atmosphere is not just the product of the environment it is also enhanced by the deft storytelling that really pulls you into a world that has gone haywire.

If your laptop or PC has the juice to power up this bad boy then don’t hesitate to get a copy. Console freaks can also try Bioshock if they have an Xbox 360.

Solar powered WiFi

Originally posted on August 27, 2007 @ 10:57 pm

One of the raison d’etres of having a laptop is taking advantage of WiFi and the ability to surf the internet wherever you are. For me, mobile surfing is one of the greatest technological leaps that we have made because it has really made information accessible to anyone, anywhere, anytime.

Of course, WiFi still costs money to operate. Yes, there are free WiFi hotzones but that doesn’t mean the operators of the network are not expending money to give you the privilege to look at the latest football scores over your macchiatto. They shoulder not only the WiFi subscription but also the accompanying costs of operating WiFi devices — electricity being a big factor to the overall expense.

Solis Energy claims to have the solution though. The Orlando-based company said that it can employ solar energy to power low wattage devices like WiFi routers, security cameras — even traffic lights and sensors. This is the kind of innovation that is really welcome in our time when global warming really poses a serious threat worldwide. An alternative source of energy that is one hundred per cent green and renewable is the way to go. Al Gore should have reason to smile when he reads about Solis.

MSI comes out with GX600 gaming notebook

Originally posted on October 24, 2007 @ 11:45 pm

MSI Computers is one of the most popular IDMs in Taiwan. In  fact, it is so success that the company even decided to expand by entering the market for branded computers itself. MSI, as a brand, has become quite popular and has also built a reputation for quality products at very competitive prices.

A few days ago, MSI announced the arrival of the GX600 gaming notebook.  This new gizmo offers a very unique feature, the ability to overclock by just a touch. The 6.16 pound notebook will come in two “flavors”. One of them will have a cool flame graphic design while the other will have a more “traditional” look.

The one touch overclocking actually serves like the old “turbo button” of computers years and years ago.  A simple press of the button and the speed of the CPU improves by as much as 20 per cent. Cool isn’t it? Actually this feature can also be done through a mere software tweak but a hardware button makes it look very cool.

The Samsung Q1 Ultra

Originally posted on September 6, 2007 @ 4:54 pm

Samsung recently released a revamped version of its Q1 ultraportable computer. This iteration did not sit well with consumers mainly because of its high selling price and the lack of a keyboard. The failure of this initial stab at the ultraportable market was such a dud that some manufacturers even looked at it as a sign that there is no business to be had in this sector and decided to just walk away from servicing this segment.

But Samsung has been steadfast in their commitment and they have now released the Q1 Ultra — which is a vast improvement over the previous model. It sports an 800 mhz Intel processor, Windows Vista, and connectivity to cellular networks. It also has a webcam. All these features have been squeezed into a form factor that only weighs 1.5 pounds. Of course, Samsung addressed the biggest gripe about the Q1 by adding a keyboard to the Ultra. Oh, and there is also the standard bluetooth and WiFi connectivity as well as a nifty 1.3 megapixel camera at the back.

Overall, the Q1 Ultra is a great device to own if you are the type who loves to surf and type out small emails to friends or even make mobile phone calls. It basically serves as specific set of functions — and it does them well. It will not, however, replace your notebook computer in terms of features and usability.

New Dell Monitor adds versatility to your desk

Originally posted on October 4, 2007 @ 11:09 pm

Whenever I am at home I usually turn my laptop into an instant CPU. I connect a monitor to it as well as a wireless keyboard and mouse combo. My reasons are simple — I don’t need to torture my eyes and give myself carpal tunnel syndrome when I am at home. If I can make things easier for myself then, of course, I’ll take advantage of it.

If you also do the same things like I do then the Dell SP2008WFP will be a good monitor for your needs. It’s a 20 inch flat panel monitor that is meant to be used for gaming, multimedia and and for communications. The nifty thing about this Dell monitor is the integration of a 2 megapixel webcam to the unit. No more awkwarly propped up webcams with this baby. It also makes your desk look less cluttered. It also has a built in microphone for easier video conferencing. The great thing about this webcam is that Dell has made it fully functional. It comes with a Dell Webcam software suite that allows you to do a number of functions with your webcam.

The monitor has a wonderful pixel response time of just 2 ms. This means that it can easily handle the demands of high end gaming. It has an HDCP compliant DVI connector that also allows you to view high definition content that is protected.

I’m going to list down this Dell monitor in my wishlist to Santa.