Image Courtesy Lenovo

With things like the hard drive supply crunch still dragging on from last year, it is very difficult to find many great deals on low cost laptops right now. Thankfully, there are still a few good deals to be found including a Lenovo ThinkPad Z575 from NewEgg for just $430. This laptop comes equipped with the AMD A6-3400M quad core processor, 4GB DDR3 memory, 500GB hard drive, dual layer DVD burner, 15-inch display, Radeon HD 6520G graphics, 802.11b/g/n wireless and Windows 7 Home Premium. While it doesn't come with the new USB 3.0, it does feature an eSATA port for high speed external storage support.

Disclaimer: All deals are those advertised by the retailer in question and may have rebates or other conditions of purchase for the products. Please be sure to read all disclaimers from the seller before purchasing.

Nokia's Asha is back for another round of bargain basement action and we find ourselves wondering how much cheaper it can get. Most of the time it makes sense to be skeptical of the lowest bidder but we've found the Finns' budget lineup to be efficient...

Mobile processors have some of the largest innovations going on in the computer market. As they gather more of the market, they have to balance the level of performance with their power usage. The type of processor used in a laptop is very dependent upon the size and design of the laptop. This article looks at what some of the various processors are available for the different classifications of laptops to assist those looking at buying a new laptop computer.

Laptop Processor Buyer's Guide

Image Courtesy Toshiba

If you happened to follow the computer news out of CES 2012, you probably heard the term Ultrabook used a lot. In fact, this class of computer seemed to outpace the number of tablet announcements which were the big hot item of 2011. So, what is the difference between a laptop and an Ultrabook? What about tablets? Find out more in my article that takes a closer look at what makes an ultrabook.

Cyberpower is a private systems integrator that is growing in size thanks to deals with internet companies such as NewEgg to sell prebuilt systems. In addition to building custom order desktops and laptops, they sell a set of same-day shipping prebuilt units similar to those sold through retail partners. But being a relatively unknown company in the major consumer market, how well do they support their computers? Find out in my profile of their support department.

Included in the profile I list the various avenues that users have for support, tips and advice. In addition to this information, I have also added a poll so that readers can share their opinion of the companies support. If you have used their support and would like to let others know of their experiences for better or worse, please vote in the survey and share your experience.

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You may have heard or seen about new cellphones that have that have the capabilities to be used with vending machines to pay for products just by swiping it next to the machine rather than paying with cash. This is utilizing a new technology called near field communications or NFC. At the recent CES 2012, several computer companies announced that they would be introducing the technology to some of their laptop computers later in the year. Now, its not likely that people would be swiping a laptop next to a vending machine for payment as it isn't really practical. So, just what is NFC and why would one want it in a laptop? Find out more in my new technology article on the subject.

What Is NFC?

Yep, you read that right. Affordable and dual core wouldn't normally belong in the same sentence. In 2011. And you don't need to press fast forward. Just sit back and enjoy. There's a lot stewing in the industry's pot and we think the place smells of quad core already...

The portable gaming market is now unrecognisable compared to the PSP’s launch in 2004 — smartphones with cheap casual games rule, and although the Nintendo 3DS has been flaunting its 3D party trick for some time now, hardcore gamers have been left twiddling their thumbs. Until now. Drum roll please for the PlayStation Vita – the handheld that wants to save portable gaming…

Sony PlayStation Vita – Design

Despite looking like an aged camera-toting PSP, the Vita feels much more luxurious. It's heavy enough to feel premium but light enough to prevent arm-ache when you play. Its twin analogues sticks are perfect for console-style gaming, and although we'd have preferred triggers, its shoulder buttons feel natural enough at the end of your index fingers.

Sony's tradition of proprietary peripherals sadly continues however, with a custom USB/charging port and overpriced 4GB (£18) and 16GB (£45) proprietary memory cards, which most games require.

Sony PlayStation Vita – Dual touchscreens

On top of its traditional controls, the Vita has a touchscreen on the front and a touchpad on the back. The former is used for navigating menus, web surfing and some in-game controls, the latter for gaming only. The one downside is that you’re forced to use touch controls in situations where the hardcore gamer might prefer to opt for the real thing.

Sony PlayStation Vita – Display and power

The Vita's 5in 220ppi OLED display produces sharp, punchy pictures. Movies look lovely, but the real thrill is the gaming graphics — the four-core CPU and GPU make this a real powerhouse, leaving Nintendo's 3DS cowering away in the corner, All that oomph comes at the expense of battery life though – you’ll get five hours max when gaming.

Sony PlayStation Vita – Game lineup

We've played 14 of the Vita's 33 strong launch titles and are yet to find a duff one. Standout titles include the graphically stunning Uncharted: Golden Abyss and the delightfully quirky Gravity Rush, a Japanese title which features a young female amnesiac and a gravity altering cat team up against blob monsters.

Turning your office desk into a battlefield with the AR-based Reality Fighters is also an impressive example of how the Vita's camera can supplement the gaming experience.

Review continues after the break...

[MPU]

Sony PlayStation Vita – Extras

The Vita packs in a whole host of social features including Near (a service which lets you see what nearby Vita users are playing), and Party which lets you chat and text with other PSN gamers. Browsing is also a pleasant experience with smooth scrolling and pinch-to-zoom action, although page rendering could be a little snappier.

Sony PlayStation Vita – Verdict

The PlayStation Vita is the portable console that hardcore gamers have been waiting for. It trumps the Nintendo 3DS and smartphone competition in raw power, graphics and quality of titles, while the dual analogue sticks and rear touchpad controls provide lots of room for future innovation. It may be pricey, but for proper gaming on the move, the Vita is in a league of its own.

Main image:

Image Courtesy Creative Technologies Ltd.

The Creative X-Fi audio processor is considered quite old by technology standards. It has been in a variety of Sound Blaster X-Fi cards for over seven years. During this time, a large number of competitors released new audio cards that challenged the company's dominance in the PC audio card market. Now the company has finally released a new audio processor called Core3D that features four audio processor cores in the chip. They have put it into three different cards ranging in price from $100 to $200. Today, I take a look at the mid-priced card with the Fatal1ty branding. Is this an excellent upgrade for gamers? What about those wanting to just listen to some music or watch movies? Find out in my review of the Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Professional PC audio card.

Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D Fatal1ty Professional PCI-Express Review

Keen to place a contender in every nook and cranny of the smartphone market, Samsung are bringing the Galaxy Ace Plus on as a substitute for their midrange Galaxy Ace. Boasting a slightly bigger and a faster processor...