Teching It Easy: Windows Vista: Reviews

A Look Back at 2007 in Reviews

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 17:47:55 GMT

Hey everyone, Happy New Year! Yeah its a bit late for that one, but don't worry I have not gone anywhere. I am definitely excited about the year 2008 and what has in store for us technology wise. The year 2007 was a fast pace one and we witnessed the release of major Microsoft products which resulted in numerous reviews, I just would like to take a brief look back what we covered:

Software Reviews

Hardware Reviews

and there are many more you can find in the ActiveWin Reviews Section

There are many products in the pipeline I am looking forward to review such as Windows Internet Explorer 8 and Windows Server 2008!

Technorati tags: 2008, New Year, Reviews, ActiveWin, Acer Ferrari 5000, Windows Vista, Office 2007, Gateway, Microsoft, Wireless, Logitech, 64-Bit, Internet Explorer 8, Windows Server 2008

Review: Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision

Wed, 26 Sep 2007 19:53:08 GMT

Disclaimer: This is a Microsoft asset-tagged item that Microsoft Corporation provided ActiveWin and Teching It Easy for review under no obligation and that it is expected to be returned at the end of the review period.

We conclude our Certified for Windows Vista Devices Review with the Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision.

Features:

· True 1.3 megapixel sensor with RightLight 2 Technology

· Live video: up to 640 x 480 pixels

· Still image capture: True 1280 x 960; Up to 4 Megapixel *(software enhanced)

· Built-in microphone with RightSound Technology

· Up to 30 frames per second live video with recommended system

· USB 2.0 high-speed certified 6 ft. USB cable

· 2-year limited hardware warranty

· Adjustable base fits any monitor or notebook

· Fixed focus

Applications for Windows(R):

· Logitech QuickCam (easily capture, save, and email your web camera’s pictures and videos)

· Logitech Video Effects avatar and face accessory software

· HP Photosmart Essential Software (web download required)

· Skype with free, full screen video calling

· Windows Live Messenger with free full screen video calling

· Yahoo Messenger with free video calling

· Video enabled AOL Instant Messenger Service

For years video web cams have been available to anyone who needed such functionality, even in pre-broadband times. I was always interested in getting one, but certain factors always got the best of me. I either don’t have appropriate hardware, too complicated to setup, no one to chat with and lack lustre software. But it’s 2007 and the more you interact with people online, the more you want to go beyond basic text based chatting. This is especially true if you have close family and friends who are far away and you would like to see them every now and then. With the pervasiveness of broadband Internet, the user experience has also been greatly enhanced, for that you get better video calls in addition to more attractive functionality that goes beyond video based chat sessions.

Setup:

Installation was pretty much uneventful, but suffered from too many wizard pages; something I have noticed when installing Logitech products in particular, this case was a four step process. But, I just wish Logitech had toned down on the configuration processes. I want an experience similar to connecting a Keyboard or Mouse or at least strive to be. Before connecting the QuickCam Ultra Vision I ran setup from the provided Installation Disk. I chose a typical installation which provided me with the essential software to work with Windows Vista. In addition to Vista, the QuickCam also supports Windows 2000 and XP. At the end of the initial phase of the installation, I was asked to Insert the QuickCam’s USB connector. Next up was a dry test run which detected the Camera and displayed a preview video. The first problem I noticed immediately was jerky video, because the table on which I was reviewing from was a bit shaky so, a video/image stabilizer would have come in handy. After this last step, setup was complete from what I could tell.

No it wasn’t, next was configuration, which I consider to be a part of the installation. The Logitech Audio Tuning Wizard began, this part focused on tuning the devices audio settings for optimal use. After eight pages, I was ready to now use the QuickCam Ultra Vision. Not so fast, one last hurdle popped up, a dialog appeared asking if I would like to enable RightLight Technology which adjusts the web cams lighting in different environments, whether dark or bright.

Usage: QuickCam Quick Capture

After installing and configuring, the QuickCam Quick Capture application started which is a similar application to Apple Inc. Photo Booth software. The software provides a number of nifty features such as taking a photo and recording video. Captured video and photos are immediately stored in the Gallery which you can easily minimize for convenience or open pictures in your default photo application. Other handy options include emailing, printing and deleting. The Logitech QuickCam floating toolbar list links to other features such as an Avatar gallery you can use to replace your face in a video with an animated character. I had some problems calibrating my face to work with the provided Avatar, but it should be fun for kids who like to do that sort of thing.

Privacy Shade

Replaces your background with a stock photo, such as an image of the beach so you can fool your colleagues or some other nature based background. There are numerous images to choose from and you can add your own with little effort. I never got this one working properly either, but then again, I really didn’t care that much. It’s something do with the lighting in my room or the calibration of my head I guess.

Web Cam Settings

Provided are a plethora of options for adjusting the QuickCam’s settings, some of these included are Pan and Tilt, Zoom, Fast Tracking, and various lighting adjustments. Other tools include Volume and Speaker, Lighting effects using the RightLight Technology for fixing poor lighting environments, Exposure, Gain, AntiFlicker, Image Orientation and Camera Selector. Application Preferences allows you to select your default video calling application, I chose Windows Live Messenger since the majority of my friends and family use that, but you can also use Yahoo! or AOL AIM if those are installed on your system. Other options include default email client which is strangely enough set to CorelCENTRAL Mail, but provides other popular choices such as Windows Live Mail, Office Outlook, Windows Mail and Yahoo! Mail. You can also set storage options for captured images or video.

Video Calling Applications

The Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision supports a wide variety of services, I previously mentioned AOL, Yahoo! and Windows Live Messenger, along with these, users can also use Skype, and Logitech’s own VideoCall which you have to download separately. If you want to do more with Video, tools for Blogging, Sharing and Podcasting are also available such as Google’s YouTube, Grouper and Logitech’s Mobile Video. A very nice feature I noticed while going through the Video based tools option, the Quick Cam provides access to tools you can already take advantage of that are installed on your system. For instance, video Editing Tools HP Photosmart Essential is provided as an option to download, but you can readily use the Windows Moviemaker application that comes built into Windows Vista. Video Snap which you can use to capture footage of an item you plan to sell on eBay so in addition to the bland still photograph you are accustomed to seeing in eBay listings, you can add a video to provide some pizzazz.

Design and Technologies

The QuickCam Ultra Vision has a unique design that’s considerably modern and functional. I used the Ultra Vision with a notebook; it was mounted on the laptops display panel, but almost seemed unstable. It just did not feel secure; the advertised “Flexible clip” did not conform to the laptops ridge although the packaging says it works with any monitor. If you are unsure about placing it on top of your monitor, you can also place it on a desk and align the camera lens to see your face.

Apart from being a traditional web cam, you can take up to 4.0 Mega pixel resolution photos; the default is set to 320 x 240 which is appropriate for emailing. If you want to achieve more high quality output you can click the Select Image Size list box which provides a number of sizes such as 960 x 720 (Hi-Definition video) and up to 2304 x 1728 for photos. I still didn’t find the results for the 4 MP photos that impressive, the colour was a bit shabby and washed out, in comparison to my Canon A520 digital camera which produces crystal clear photos with richer colours. Both sides of the camera have buttons for taking photos and video, the middle of the camera has a built in microphone along with the Activity Light button.

Windows Live Messenger

Working with Instant Messaging

The next logical step was to test it out over Instant Messenger. To start using Live Messenger for Video and Audio, a setup wizard was launched when I clicked the Start or Stop a video call button on the contacts conversation window. After adjusting my hardware, the video session began. There was nothing spectacular about it, but I notice the video quality was not that riveting, but was fluid and acceptable. That was pretty much it to be honest with you. There were no issues throughout the chat session. I notice that the recipients viewing quality was not that picture quality although I was receiving a much clearer picture from the other end.

Conclusion

The Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision is nice, just the ability to see the person on the other end is a great treat, especially if it’s someone you have not seen in ages. Although the video capabilities were not impressive, I feel it was more a result of my connection which is kind of slow by DSL standards. But going beyond just video chat sessions, I was pleased with the web cams range of capabilities. The QuickCam software provides nifty features such as the ability to record video so you can easily setup a Podcast and post a video to your blog or on popular services such as YouTube or MSN Soapbox. The tight integration with the Windows Vista operating system gives you choices to experiment and utilize existing technologies built into the OS such as Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Movie Maker. Although I do not consider supporting specific Instant Messaging services a feature any typical web cam should be able to do that, its nice to know it confidently supports the various services available. If you are interested in purchasing a web cam, this is definitely a recommended choice to look at.

Pro's	Con's
Compact Modern Design that’s flexible and adjustable	Flexible rubber clip does look or feel 100% secure when fitted on top of LCD monitors such as Notebook computers
Certified for Windows Vista integrates well with existing technologies built in to the OS such as Windows Photo Gallery and Moviemaker.	Installation and configuration phases are bit too much; I just want to start using the device as quickly as possible.
Supports a wide range of online and instant messaging services.	4 Mega pixel photo qualities are not that impressive.
Adjustable Camera Lens
Snapshot and Quick Video Buttons
QuickCam Capture Software – Avatar and face accessory software
Good focus technology

In the Box:

· Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision

· Installation CD

· Installation Guide

Ratings:

· Installation: 79 %

· Ease of Use: 86%

· Features: 86%

· Design: 95%

· Options: 95%

· Help & Documentation: 85%

· Price: 90%

Price $129

Check out the Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision Gallery Here

Certified for Windows Vista

Windows Vista Logo Program: http://www.windowsvista.com/lookforthelogo

Logitech:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/details/US/EN,CRID=2204,CONTENTID=11804

System Requirements:

· Windows 2000, Windows XP Pentium 4 1.4 Ghz or AMD Athlon 1.6GHz processor (Pentium 4 2.4 GHz recommended) 128 MB RAM (256 recommended).

· Windows Vista – Pentium 4 2.4 GHz (2.8 GHz recommended), 512 MB of RAM (1 GB recommended)

· 200 MB hard disk space

· CD-ROM drive

· 16-Bit color display adapter

· OS Compatible Sound Card and Spears

· 1.1 or 2.0 USB port

Recommended system requirements are needed to use Logitech RightSound or RightLight 2 technology features.

Technorati tags: Logitech QuickCam Ultra Vision, Web Cam, Reviews, Windows Vista, Microsoft, Windows Live Messenger, Yahoo! Messenger, AIM, Instant Messenging, Avatar, Devices, Hardware

Review: Gateway ML3109 Notebook with Windows Vista Home Basic

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:48:20 GMT

Monday I borrowed a friends Gateway laptop they purchased this past summer in the US for school this fall. I was interested in giving it a test to see how well it runs and what’s included. The target audience is of course right, this is for a student in high school or someone who has basic needs, word processing, email, Internet and music. In fact the owner of this laptop seems to be in the middle of their School Based Assessment assignment for Information Technology which tests a student’s knowledge in three areas: Word Processing, Spreadsheet and Database Management System. I am going to be honest; I was not totally impressed by this system. Let’s check out the specs and find out why I am not in love:

Gateway ML3901 Notebook

Specifications:

Intel Celeron M Processor 520 1.6 GHz

80 GB PATA hard drive (5400 RPM) (3.6 GBs for Recovery)

512 of DDR2 667 MHz (1 x 512) memory upgradable to 2 GB

ATI Radeon Xpress 200M Graphics (64 MB)

14.1-inch Widescreen Ultra bright TFT

24x CDRW/DVD Optical drive

4-in-1 Digital Media Reader

Integrated 802.11g Wireless LAN

Software:

Windows Vista Home Basic x86 Edition

Office Home and Student Edition 2007 60-day Trial

Learn more at the following links:

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/2007/Apache/1014550R/1014550Rsp2.shtml

http://support.gateway.com/s/Mobile/2007/Apache/1014550R/1014550Rnv.shtml

Again, basic needs, but the first blunder is the performance, running Windows Vista Home Basic is excruciatingly groggy, the boot up did not take long, but reaching the desktop was a disappointing hurdle. The laptops graphics support AERO Standard which is a watered down version of the AERO Glass theme available in premium Vista SKU’s. But, it only downgraded the experience so I just reverted to the more performance friendly AERO Basic which provides a certain level of the Vista user experience. Still I had to do some tweaks to get more performance; I turned off some of the visual effects for instance from under the System Properties applet to achieve a more responsive system. Even then, there was still a bit of grogginess going on but remained acceptable throughout my usage. The system is certified Windows Vista Basic, but I don’t understand how Gateway could seriously ship a system with 512 MBs of RAM! 1 GB is the minimum to get by without feeling insulted when using this OS. I can’t believe that we are in 2007 and OEMs like these are making such bloopers. The Windows Sidebar which I have also noticed on other systems that slow or powerful takes an unusually long time to appear on screen (four Gadgets loaded, Clock, Slideshow, Weather and Notes). I still must give the system credit though, once it was fully booted, applications in addition to Windows Explorer windows opened responsively, but then it would not have if I didn’t make those necessary tweaks and I still experience the hints of performance frustrations when launching things like contextual menus.

Windows Vista Home Basic x86

Everyday Task

I did a bunch of common task you would expect a system like this to do, launch Word, typed a few docs, played music, and checked email. The ML3109 does not give off a lot of heat and makes working with it from your lap a welcome. It’s a striking contrast to the Acer Ferrari 5000 I recently reviewed which is not lap friendly or battery friendly at all. I was able to get approximately 3 hours out of the ML3109 without it feeling like 3 minutes, kudos to the energy efficient Intel Celeron M. I am still worried about performance in particular when it comes to running Vista, which ends up getting a bad name as groggy or not optimized and could ultimately result in the user dissatisfied, choosing to format the system and down grade to Windows XP. It has happened and I can tell you from my own experiences, my sister-in-law purchased a Dell Inspiron this March and was disgusted by Vista so much that she immediately asked me to format the system and load XP. Another thing that worries me is that over time, how will this system keep up? I don’t see any benefits from the said to be always running Defragment tool and the possibility of a future Service Pack 1 might not bring any changes.

Back to everyday task, the system comes with applications the user can appreciate, some, not so spectacular. The popular Microsoft Office 2007 is included but is a trial and it’s the Home and Student Edition which lacks Office Access. An alternative suite, Microsoft Works 8.5 is included but is pretty much useless by my standards and others who depend on compatibility with Microsoft Office and its advance tools for document creation. A copy of Microsoft Money 2006 is included, which should come in handy for managing household finances. I like the look and feel of the application. Its interesting that its compatible, since I had issues running a higher Money 2006 SKU and even 2007 version on Vista earlier this year.

Additional Software

Some of the other applications that come bundled include MSN Encarta Plus, Napster, AOL, Cyber link DVD Suite, Gateway Games (which includes Bejewelled 2 Deluxe and some other lack lustre titles such as Polar Golfer, FATE amounting to a total of eleven), Google Desktop, McAfee Security Center version 7.2, Microsoft Digital Image Starter Edition 2006 (which doesn’t make much sense with Vista’s excellent built in Windows Photo Gallery application, but the added Microsoft Photo Story 3.1 makes up for it). It’s great for turning your photos into fun home movies, I used it for my cousins wedding pictures and the almost cinematic results left me highly impressed.

Display and Graphics

The ML3109 features a 14.1 inch wide screen glossy display that makes it really easy on the eyes. It’s very bright and detailed making it great for watching movies, reading text, viewing images and even enjoying screensavers surprisingly! I am typing this right now on my Dell c840 and it’s almost like night and day. Its one of the nice aspects of ML3109 notebook, but of course its not appropriate in every environment, if you are in lots of light it becomes a bit unbearable, but I rarely find myself using my notebook in broad daylight so I don’t think there is too much to worry about. The display features a max resolution of 1280 by 800 pixels with a minimum of 800 by 600. There is also support for External Displays and Projectors for those who want more screen real estate or are giving presentations. The built in ATI Radeon Xpress Series is as basic as it gets, the total Available Graphics Memory is 128 MBs with 64 MB dedicated to Video with Shared System memory totalling 64 MBs. This shared system memory stresses the precious 512 MBs bringing down the amount allocated to the Operating System and applications a meagre 456 MBs of RAM.

Keyboard

It’s kind of tacky, but does not bother me that much; I definitely would replace it in heart beat with my Dell 840c. Also, the layout of one key in particular is a drawback. The ‘Fn’ key located all the way down at the lower left hand corner results in numerous wrong hits when I’m issuing CTRL associated commands such enabling CTRL + B for bold in Microsoft Word. It’s not geared toward a Pro it seems, I had to readjust to using the right CTRL which kind of disrupts my user experience. There are quick access embedded keys for adjusting the displays brightness, for enabling Wi-Fi, Sleep and many other functions that will come in very handy when on the go.

Windows Vista Home Basic x86

This is Microsoft’s entry level consumer version of their latest desktop operating system. I noted some of the features and differences between this and the higher premium SKU’s. I am going to be honest, Vista Home Basic while satisfactory for most persons, is not enticing, it features all the common applications such as Windows Calendar, Photo Gallery, Sidebar, Media Player 11 and Movie Maker with out DVD burning support. Don’t get me wrong, when you compare Home Basic to say Ultimate, you begin to understand what I mean. In fact, if you have used either Home Premium or Ultimate, you appreciate some of the more finer elements such as richer visuals (AERO Glass is a darn good looking UI), Dreamscene (although it has been lacking of late) and Flip 3D for instance. Also, the stronger feature set such as Meeting Space for collaboration, Media Center/XBOX 360 support and Advanced Backup. Speaking of Backup, I find Vista Ultimate’s Complete PC Backup an amazing asset. It’s quick and easy and makes restoring your system to a working state a cinch. Its one of the things I would have hoped that Microsoft would have brought to all the SKUs. I think everybody’s data/computer, whether you are running Vista Ultimate or Home Basic is important. Still, the ability to backup copies of your files and folders is a welcome feature and improvement to Windows without the need for third party software, plus it’s very straightforward and simple too.

Of course, there is a case for an up sell here for the OEM to take advantage of, but for those who don’t want everything; I think more could have been added to Home Basic without Microsoft thinking that it would cannibalize sales of the other SKUs. If you do want more, the convenience is included for you through the provided Windows Anytime Upgrade link in the Control Panel. You can also acquire the Anytime Upgrade anywhere Computers and Software is sold if you believe you need to take your Vista experiences further. Overall, there were no problems with the operating system with exception of a glitch trying to network both Vista Home Basic and Ultimate in a Workgroup configuration, the Network Diagnostics was of no use, but networking with Windows XP went without a hitch.

If you want to learn more about Windows Vista, check out ActiveWin’s Windows Vista review.

Gateway Recovery Center

An awesome feature, it makes reinstalling your system and factory installed applications very easy. You can also do a Device Driver Recovery and create an Application/Driver recovery disc with a few clicks. But the lack of a separate operating disk makes me frown, that you have to do through the built in Factory System Recovery which includes a Recovery partition (3.6 GBs). Windows Vista Service Pack 1 is rumoured to include a Create an Operating System Recovery Disc feature, so that should come in handy for all the installations of OEM Vista that do not include the OS on a separate disc. This is a problem OEM’s just don’t seem to understand; people do not always want to reinstall all the junk and just want a clean system with their drivers.

Conclusion

The Gateway ML3901 although bare and basic in some areas is acceptable and appropriate for many users with ‘basic’ needs. Although, I find the amount of RAM highly unacceptable. I think a little sacrifice could have been made and even add a built in web cam, this is 2007, not 1997. The technology is there; let’s bring it down to more budget hardware without this need to make it seem like a luxury. Other features like the built in Media Card reader are nice, but I don’t even use mine. The system is slow and requires a fair amount of tweaking to get it to a point of responsiveness to make it really useable. Don’t think about hardcore gaming on the ML3109, Solitaire and Bejewelled is all the Quake a system like this needs. Hopefully future updates to this model and the Windows Vista operating system will provide a better experience. But, I still see Gateway still offering a newer model their website with a similar configuration. When will they ever learn?

Pro's	Con's
Nice Display	Tacky keyboard
Includes Windows Vista	System slow and groggy
Good Battery Life	Unacceptable amount of system memory
Light	Lack luster graphics
4-in-1 Media Reader	Intel “Celeron” M – Not even a Core Solo or Duo???
DVD/CD-RW Combo drive
Built in Wireless 802.11g
Good Recovery tools

Installation: N/A
Ease of Use: 80%
Features: 75%
Drivers: 80%
Design: 80%
Manual: 75%
Price: 75%

Overall: 76%

System Cost: $499, comparable version Gateway NX570 S

http://www.gateway.com

Thanks Billian for the loaner!

Check out the Gateway ML3901 Gallery here

Previous Reviews:
Logitech MX Revolution mouse
Acer Ferrari 5000
Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000

Further reading:

ActiveWin.com: Ferrari 5000 x64 Laptop (Windows Vista) - Review

ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Office 2007 - Review

Technorati tags: Gateway, ML3901, Vista, Windows Vista Home Basic, x86, 32-bit, Reviews, ActiveWin, Acer Ferrari 5000, Hardware, Intel, Operating systems, Office 2007

ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Office Publisher 2007 - Review

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 22:10:58 GMT

From ActiveWin.com

"Brian has posted his review of Office Publisher 2007. Here is an excerpt:
Publisher first made it’s entry in 1991 as “Microsoft Publisher for Windows” (v1). Its debut consisted of 3 floppy disks, including clipart, totaling 4.32mb. Every other year there after, Microsoft released a new version of Publisher adding features (and size) based on feedback from home office workers and commercial printers. We are now on the 9th version of Microsoft Publisher (though technically Microsoft has given Publisher 2007 the v12 branding to be consistent with the rest of Microsoft Office), with a substantial number of improvements over the past few versions. Publisher is aimed at the home consumer as well as the small business market. Those looking for an all in one application that can produce their business brochures, letters, business cards, thank you notes, and mail merges from databases for sending out postcards will find Publisher the all in one solution. Publisher can hold your hand in designing your entire business portfolio of marketing material with thousands of combined wizards and templates. For the more ambitious, one can take full control of their designs from the ground up using Publisher. Starting with a blank page, a user can design a publication, save it as a template for future use, as well as share the design elements of that template with other custom templates to keep a consistent and more professional output."
Read the entire review here

If you haven't read my Office 2007 review, check it out here

Technorati tags: ActiveWin, Publisher 2007, Office 2007, Reviews, Office Productivity Suite, Desktop Publishing, Brian Kvalheim

Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 Review

Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:03:31 GMT

Features:

Keyboard

Mouse

Gadgets Button

One-touch access to gadgets like weather, news, stock quotes, and more

Media Controls

Control your media activities with the touch of a button.

Windows Live Call Button

One-touch access to your Windows Live Messenger buddy list

My Favorites Hot Keys

Customize these five touch-sensitive keys to instantly bring up the folders, files and web pages you use most.

Windows Start Button

Simply press to launch you Start menu. Use it to search your PC or the web with Windows Vista installed.

Navigation PAD

You’re in command with integrated touch pad cursor control.

Proximity awareness

Your presence wakes the keyboard – saving battery life while not in use.

Windows Media Center Start Button

Quickly launch Media Center Functions

Instant Viewer

Click the scroll wheel button to display open windows

4-way scrolling

Scroll side to side as up and down

Magnifier

Just point and press to enlarge and edit details.

Recharging

Mouse charging Station

One look at Microsoft’s Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 and you will know this keyboard and mouse combination is all about Windows Vista. Featuring an innovative sleek design, these input devices deliver a first class experience on Microsoft’s consumer operating systems. The first time you take notice of the keyboard you will immediately admire its slim compact design, but begin to discover the differences that set it apart from traditional keyboards. I am one of those persons who love light and this keyboard wins already by making it easy to move around your living room or bedroom when using the Media Center functionality.

A significant aspect of the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000, is well, it’s “Wireless”, but requires some initial setup to achieve this experience. The keyboard for instance requires 4 AA alkaline batteries and 1 rechargeable battery for the mouse, all included in the package. Also included is a Mini Bluetooth Transceiver which provides the wireless signal for both devices. According to the package, the Bluetooth wireless speed is at 2.4 GHz allowing connectivity at a range of up to 30 feet.

Wireless Laser 7000 keyboard - Setup:

I tested the Wireless Laser 7000 Bluetooth keyboard on Vista Ultimate Edition; Home Premium in addition to Windows XP Media Center is also supported. You are most likely not going to use it on Vista Business or Home Basic since those editions are missing certain functionality such as Media Center which is a highlight of the keyboard integration, but I don’t see anything preventing you from doing so. Also, the lack of a dedicated numeric pad wouldn’t make it ideal for number crunchers either, although you can still access an embedded one using the Fn command. So its clear to begin with, this is a multimedia based keyboard with a target audience in mind. After opening the box, I took out the User Guide and installation CD; a green pamphlet provides a notice requiring that you install a critical update from http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/vistaupdate before proceeding with installation.

This update provides stability improvements to the USB stack under Vista x86 and x64 for Microsoft keyboard and Mice. So before connecting the Wireless Laser 7000 keyboard I used my existing corded keyboard to prepare my system. The installation from the Drivers CD which comes with Microsoft IntelliPoint and IntelliType 6.1 software was very simple. Parts during the installation require that you select the appropriate model number for the keyboard and mouse. After the installation completed, the Bluetooth wizard starts which prepares both mouse and keyboard to operate wirelessly in addition to devices such as Bluetooth based PDA’s and Printers that can be peered to function with the Bluetooth dongle.

It is important that you select the device model during setup. To see more screenshots from the installation, click HERE

Usage:

The first real world experience I tried on the keyboard was typing a document in Microsoft Word. To be honest, it takes some adjustment; the keyboard has a similar curved layout found on the Acer Ferrari 5000 laptop only with larger keys. Typing was responsive, but the large alphabetical keys resulted in numerous mistakes at first. I notice the alphabet keys are not consistent in size either, the ‘N’ and ‘B’ keys for instance are strangely the largest, I don’t know if this is based on research. The more I began using it the more I felt I had to study the keyboard to become more adjusted. The four way arrow keys are unusually slim which in some scenarios can result in accidentally hitting the wrong arrow if you are utilizing them in a particular task such as navigating through Media Center or a spreadsheet.

As noted there is no dedicated numeric keypad, then again, this is not a keyboard for accountants, it’s called the Wireless “Entertainment” Desktop for a reason. The tactile feed back from the keyboard is very good, the last keyboard that I did appreciate typing on is the one included with IBM’s Aptiva desktop systems. The response was instant, it’s definitely a pleasure to type on, and the keys themselves are more like those you find on laptops. The keyboards curvature provides an almost ergonomic layout that makes it easier on wrist movement, it’s not a definite replacement for Microsoft’s Natural Keyboard, but does provide a welcome level of comfort when in long usage.

Function keys are another major difference that I immediately noticed. Instead of traditional keys, Touch Sensitive buttons are used instead along with embedded keys you can easily activate with the function “Fn” key command. The function keys are divided into four distinctive sets with a combination of modes depending on the environment. You have quick access to common explorers such as Music and Pictures along with embedded functions for quick access to Windows Live Messenger and your home page when in your web browser. When I was about to take screenshots of the Intelli software installation, I became a bit perplexed at how I would do an ALT + PRSCRN. Surprisingly it worked well although you are left feeling unsure if the command was done because of a lack of tactile feedback. Of course it adds to the style and elegance of the keyboard making it lighter and more simplified.

The Wireless Laser 7000 is very well organised, both sides feature buttons that make handling the keyboard easy and logical. On the left side are integrated mouse buttons that act as pointing devices and works in accordance with the Navigation pad on the right side which curiously can also be used as a pointing device for navigating up, down, left and right depending on the mode it is set to.

Wirelessly moving through Windows Media Center :)

Design & Technologies

The keyboard accents Vista nicely by featuring a physical Vista pearl Start Button for quickly accessing programs and launching commands. The hand rest features proximity awareness which intelligently detects your presence and wakes the keyboard when in use, great for conserving battery life. I like the two tone finish which is combination of dark grey textured finish and silver frame surrounding the keys.

The left side of the keyboard features quick access to buttons for Magnification and Windows Sidebar Gadgets. When the magnifying glass is enabled, a rectangular window appears enlarging items on screen. Player controls are also available for Media player and Media Center which make it easy to manipulate your music so you can pause, play and scan through tracks directly from the keyboard. In addition to these I also discovered buttons for Volume, Mute and Channels which comes in handy when you are operating in Media Center from your sofa or bed. A Windows Live Call Button is also available for quick access to your Live Messenger Buddy list. I like the focus on making the keyboard a part of the living room while still maintaining its traditional functionality when working in a two feet environment, the remote and touch pad capabilities left me highly impressed.

Media Center

The keyboard features an integrated Media Center Start button for quick access. Using the keyboard in Media Center is very good! Once you set the Navigation Pad to the right mode; located at the upper extreme right of the keyboard, it makes it a cinch flying through the Media Center interface. If you are in one of the Media Center locations such as Picture or Music libraries, you can easily go back to the interface home by hitting the green button. I used the Media Center and wireless capabilities at approximately eight feet away and continued browsing, listening to music and navigating without any hindrance. The Navigation Pad is really a nice addition; if you are using it in the living room you can easily enjoy your multimedia and get work done at the same time. It would have been nice if the keyboard also featured a tracking ball (found on some laptops) to provide some fluidity in movement through out the Windows environment when not in Media Center. You can do it with the Navigation Pad when set back to mouse mode, but it’s so small, and hinders the time it takes to move the pointer to a part of the user interface. I could have used the mouse too, but would defeat the purpose of having this feature integrated in the keyboard in the first place. What I find strange is you can already accomplish some of the Navigation Pads capabilities with the four way arrow keys and the Enter button, so at times I was left confused why its there in the first place.

Laser 8000 Mouse Instant Viewer

Wireless Laser 8000 Bluetooth Mouse

As I already noted, the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 includes a mouse, which uses a 1,000 DPI laser sensor. Included with the Mouse is a rechargeable NiMH AA battery, a companion recharging base is also provided. In comparison to the wireless Bluetooth Ferrari 5000 mouse its very light, but not as light as the Logitech MX Revolution which I recently reviewed. It does a good job, there really are no surprising features that really set it apart, but the standard features make it very comfortable and productive to use. Don’t be mistaken though, this mouse still does feature some innovative features which I enjoyed using such as the Instant Viewer which gives you quick access to your open windows. The Laser 8000 also features four- way scrolling so you can scroll side to side, in addition to up and down. It’s not a dedicated gaming mouse, but works quite well in first-person shooter games, there is a bit of slugginess when using in fast games and in some cases this will hinder persons who have good game reflexes.

Software

The ability to customize your keyboard and mouse is also one of the great functions of this package. Both Keyboard and Mouse tie into Vista’s existing settings and adds their enhanced tools for customization. The IntelliPoint software provides straightforward options for remapping the various commands that are available, whether you are a gamer or need specific options for working in a particular program. You can also tweak the mouse speed for faster feedback when clicking. I personally chose not to alter any of the default settings. The highlight of the Laser 7000 Entertainment keyboard customization is the Favourites Hot Keys for which you can assign quick access to your most commonly used programs. As you can see in the following screenshot, I had assigned commands to the programs I most often use daily such as Microsoft Word, Media Player, Photo Gallery, Firefox and ActiveWin.com. You can also use the Favourites button above the F10 key which calls up a dialog from which you can customize on the fly or launch the desired application. I would have liked if the Laser 8000s Instant Viewer took advantage of Vista’s existing ALT +TAB application switcher instead of using its own implementation, although it’s still nice to look at, but I notice when I click the scroll wheel as advertised, it does not immediately appear.

Quirks and Glitches

The day before this review was published; my brother came over to visit and also wanted to check out the new hardware I was reviewing. I was excited to show him the many features and wow him with the wireless capabilities. It kind of happened the way I wanted it to, I launched MCE using the MCE button, but strangely enough, when I switched to navigation mode on the Navigation Pad, the Up and Down arrows did not work at all, when I switched back to the Pointing Device mode, the mouse functionality did not work either. Then I navigated to the contents of a library, and pressed the MCE Start button to go back instantly to the MCE home screen, it activated the Start Panel. A restart eventually sorted things out and my brother was overall impressed by the wireless capabilities and the keyboards sleek design. The Laser 8000 was not without its quirks either, when I went to demonstrate Instant Viewer, clicking scroll again did not instantly bring up the application, it almost felt like a lucky hit when it eventually came up.

Final Thoughts

What can I say? I love the Wireless Entertain Desktop 7000 and I am positively overwhelmed by its many features. Its tight integration with Windows Vista will leave users of the operating system very impressed and comfortable. When I look back at my Dell PS/2 keyboard, I have to wonder how am I going readjust to it after having such a great time with the Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000 <sigh>. Although there are some misses in areas such as no numeric keypad and touch based functions might require some getting accustomed to, the Laser Desktop 7000 is a great combination when used with Media Center and the Vista OS’s various features. The Laser 8000 mouse when coupled with Vista also shines and includes really productive features that make it a treat for users. While it’s not for gamers, it’s a great value when combined with the Laser 7000 keyboard, the wireless capabilities in addition to the recharging station results in very high points. Overall, I would recommend this to any home user running Microsoft’s multimedia operating systems, whether Vista or XP Media Center, it’s great for general purpose and media center activities. I am happy to say, this package is designed to improve your user experiences in the living room for the better.

Andre

Keyboard

Pros	Cons
Sleek Compact Design	Lack of tactile feedback from function keys leaves users feeling unsure
Light	Requires Four AA Batteries
Wireless/Bluetooth	Navigation Pad does not work well throughout entire Vista operating (recommend track ball)
Tight Integration with Media Center and quick access to programs through MCE and Vista Start buttons	Repetitive features
Favourite Hot Keys	Inconsistent key sizes, takes a little adjustment
Proximity Awareness
Customizable/Easy to setup

Mouse

Pros	Cons
Quick Access to functionality – Magnifier, Open Application Viewer	Instant Viewer should take advantage of Vista’s Flip 3D instead using its own implementation
Light	Not optimized for really fast games.
Wireless/Bluetooth	Clicking scroll wheel to activate Instant Viewer is not as instant as advertised.
Rechargeable Battery
Customizable/Easy to setup

In the Box:

Recharging station
AC power cord
Bluetooth dongle
Microsoft IntelliPoint and IntelliType 6.1 software
Setup guide
One Rechargeable battery (for Laser 8000 Mouse)
Four AA Alkaline batteries (for Laser 7000 Keyboard)

Ratings:

Installation: 90 %
Ease of Use: 86%
Features: 95%
Design: 95%
Options: 95%
Help & Documentation: 85%
Price: 90%

Overall: 95%

Price $129
Certified for Windows Vista

Check out the Microsoft Wireless Entertain Desktop 7000 Gallery HERE

Windows Vista Logo Program: http://www.windowsvista.com/lookforthelogo

Microsoft Hardware: http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/productdetails.aspx?pid=081

Previous Reviews:
Logitech MX Revolution mouse
Acer Ferrari 5000

Technorati tags: Reviews, Microsoft, Microsoft Hardware, Microsoft Wireless Entertainment Desktop 7000, Keyboard, Mouse, Input Devices, Wireless, Bluetooth, Wireless Laser 7000 Keyboard, Wireless Laser 8000 Mouse, Vista, Operating systems, x86, x64, 32-bit, 64-bit

MX Revolution World’s Most Advanced Mouse - Review

Mon, 09 Jul 2007 16:40:07 GMT

Features:

Logitech SmartShift Technology

MX Revolution uses advanced technology to detect your current application and automatically apply the scroll mode that best fits the task at hand.

Hyper-Fast Scrolling

Fly through long documents at hyperspeed with the nearly frictionless alloy scroll wheel. Shift to precise click-to-click scrolling to navigate list, slides, and image collections.

Document Quick-Flip

Move effortlessly between documents. It’s never been easier to cut and paste between applications, compare documents, compare documents, or check e-mail.

Touch to Search

Highlight a word or phrase and press the Search button to instantly display results from your favourite search engine.

Rechargeable Cordless Laser

Rechargeable Li-ion battery, full-speed USB wireless technology, and a state-of-the-art laser engine deliver convenience and absolute precision.

System Requirements:

IBM or compatible PC

Windows Vista (requires Internet connection) or XP

USB Port

CD-ROM Drive

When I first laid eyes on this mouse, I knew I would want to spend the rest of my ergonomically correct life with it. A combination of design and aesthetics provides a first class computing experience that’s second to none. The futuristic appearance might intimidate some persons at first glance, but once you get to know this pointing device, you will be glad to hold the future in the palm of your hand (right hand preferably). I have been using generic PS/2 mice for years now, I recently transitioned to using an optical laser mouse on my main desktop system, which I consider to, be a great improvement since there is no longer a need to open the mouse and clean out the gunk that builds up over time. With the MX Revolution it’s the best of both worlds especially with it’s unique and advanced features like its deep integration with the Windows Vista operating system and contoured right-hand shape that make gripping and moving the mouse very comfortable.

The first advantage I found after using the mouse is, that its light, moving it around, pointing and clicking require little to no effort, this combination result’s in smooth wrist movement and close to no arm fatigue.

I wanted to take full advantage of the MX Revolution capabilities; so the best way to do this is to download and install the Logitech’s Set Point 4.0 software with improved Vista support, SetPoint 3.01 shipped with it, but has some Vista configuration issues. This software provides additional enhancements so you can get the most out of it. The installation was straightforward, but the wizard pages were a few too many, so I ended up spending a lot of time clicking and, clicking some more – a real pleasure with this mouse! See the following screenshots for a visual idea of what I went through:

Straightforward, but the wizard for the installation features too many pages. It’s a small trade off but nothing to get worried about, just that consolidating some pages would have been nice. Setpoint features options for assigning specific mouse commands depending on the application in use or throughout the Windows interface.

SETUP:

The mouse comes with a recharging station (dock) which you plug into your power outlet; and is used to recharge the mouse. Next is the Micro Receiver, a USB Thumb drive shaped device; which allows the mouse to be used wirelessly. The green LED lights on the upper edge of the mouse indicate if it’s fully charged and ready to be used. If it’s not, just place it back into the recharging station until it is ready. At the bottom is an on and off switch which you may use to preserve battery levels when not in use.

My favourite feature is hyper scroll which allows you to effortlessly move between applications without actually moving the mouse. SetPoint is grouped into four categories: Mouse Button Settings, Mouse Movement, Mouse Game Settings, Wheel Settings and Mouse Batteries in addition to a Tools group. The traditional old scroll wheel gets reworked for Revolution duty with two modes. The first mode is the standard ratcheting mode we are all used to. The second scroll mode is a simple change that makes a huge difference in daily use by allowing the wheel to freely spin. The normal left and right horizontal scroll is performed by moving the scroll wheel left or right.

In free-wheel mode the scroll wheel can spin for up to seven seconds according to Logitech. In my testing I saw longer spin times than that; scrolling for up to ten seconds at a time was not uncommon at all. That allows me to move through long pages scanning for specific content. I found it great to use on websites such as eBay and a great way to move through long Word documents. The fast scrolling is very easy to stop as well, simply place your finger on it and it stops on a dime.

Logitech made the MX Revolution Wireless Mouse intelligent; it can change the scroll mode on-the-fly depending on what it thinks is the correct mode for the task at hand. It does a pretty good job of it too. If you are scrolling slowly and little at a time it leaves itself in click mode, however, start scrolling faster and the wheel will automatically change to free-wheel mode.

I experienced some problems with the free-wheel mode when testing it free-wheel just would not work on all web pages. You will notice this when scrolling long pages with text entry fields. The free-wheel worked fine on the long pages in documents, but when I would mouse over the text entry field scrolling would not work, to be able to scroll through the long embedded text entry fields I would have to change to click mode by pressing the scroll wheel.

A few pages simply wouldn't scroll in free-wheel mode at all. For instance while writing a review I was trying to scroll a web page in free-wheel mode and it simply wouldn't scroll, a quick tap of the scroll wheel to change the mouse manually to click mode and I was back in business. Not nearly the hassle it sounds to be, but strange nonetheless. The normal middle click function of the scroll wheel is replaced with the ability to manually change between scroll modes.

Inside the SetPoint software:

Mouse Button:

Here you can specifically configure parts of the mouse to function the way you want it to in a particular program, whether its Microsoft Outlook or Adobe Acrobat. The great thing about the MX Rev is its pre programmed out of the box with standard motion settings that suit most users. The SetPoint software should have made it possible to assign Windows Search as the default for One-Touch-Search.

Mouse Movement:

Here you configure mouse settings for speed and acceleration of the pointer, as well as how fast you scroll and zoom. You can also specify whether you want to use a pointer trail and the Smart Move positioning feature when you open a new window or dialog. The pointer trail helps to locate the pointer on screens that are unclear or difficult to view.

Game Settings:

SetPoint enable its Game Detection settings and applies its own speed and Acceleration implementation or allows you can use Vista’s default options. Depending on the task you are carrying out, you can for example easily use the mouse for work, doing a presentation or gaming. SetPoint can automatically enable or disable mouse acceleration, and increase or decrease mouse speed when you are playing games. For instance, you can have acceleration switched on when you use most applications on your computer, so that when surfing the Internet or word processing you move quickly around the screen, but switched off when playing games to increase your accuracy and gaming effectiveness.

MX Revolutions Document Flip window

I think the best feature of the MX Revolutions is Document Quick Flip, which basically makes switching between applications as easy as 1, 2, and 3. When you click the Micro-Gear Precision wheel located at the left side of the mouse, the Document Flip window appears with a listing of all your open applications, you simply scroll and click the wheel to select an application without the need to move the mouse or use the left mouse button to click. It’s confusing at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s a great experience. And if you’re using Windows Vista, this can optionally tie-into Flip3D as well.

Back and Forward buttons are a treat, located on the left-side of the mouse they make jumping through long documents a time saver. I had the buttons programmed to function for page forward and page backwards in SetPoint 4, but the button sometimes would refuse to function. After hitting the buttons a few times, the command would take place but the occasional difficulty in getting the navigation buttons to work was strange.

Left to right: Back, Document Flip, Forward, Left Click buttons

Left to right: Right click, Left Scroll, Manual Scroll, Right Scroll button

One Touch Search

Battery Life

The MX Revolution uses an integrated Li-Ion battery that is recharged on an AC powered base station you plug into a power outlet. It responded well on a variety of surfaces, including a matte based texture surface, typical mouse pad and hard wood desk. Battery life is good, on a full charge the Set Point software indicated battery life at about 17 days. I personally use a mouse way more than what might be considered normal, roughly 10-16 hours a day on average, with a minimum of four hours a day. I got about 4 days of use out of the battery before I was greeted with the red recharge me LED. When the mouse did run down, placing it on the recharging dock for an hour did the trick, and the battery was fully recharged according to the battery level indicator on the left side of the mouse.

Final Comments

The Logitech MX Revolution is a great general purpose mouse, features such as Document Flip and the Back and Forward buttons makes working at your computer and more welcoming experience when using productivity applications and the web. Although I didn’t do much gaming with it, the MX Revolution will be welcomed also by casual gamers who will find the MX Revolution performs well; but hardcore gamers will want more sensitivity than the MX Revolution’s 480DPI will allow for.

Pro's	Con's
Sleek Design	Does not work well with left hand users
Light	Gaming Sensivity not perfect
Makes Application Switching easy	Takes a little time to adjust to the features
Works well with Windows Vista (SetPoint 4 drivers supports Vista x64)	Printed manual would have been nice with content for taking advantage of the features
Free-wheel scroll	Free-wheel scroll doesn't work on all pages
Good battery Life

In the Box:

· Recharging station

· AC power cord

· USB micro dongle

· Logitech SetPoint CD (3.01)

· User's guide

· 3-year limited warranty

Price

$99

Certified for Windows Vista

Windows Vista Logo Program: http://www.windowsvista.com/lookforthelogo

Logitech: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/products/upp/details/US/EN,crid=2676,contentid=12134&ad=revolution_mxupp

Technorati tags: MX Revolution, Mouse, Devices, Microsoft, Windows Vista, Operating systems, reviews, Logitech

Talking about My HP tx1000 Review is online

Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:52:40 GMT

A great review that highlights some of the unique functionality of mobile/business/entertainment solution. This is definitely an impressive laptop from HP.

Quote

My HP tx1000 Review is online

This evening, I finally got my review of the HP tx1000 Pavilion Entertainment PC online. Check out the review and photos on the Windows Experience Blog.
Overall, it is a very nice laptop PC. However, its Tablet PC capabilities are a bit lacking. The pen and the tx1000's ability to grab my handwriting was a struggle. But when it did detect my handwriting, Windows Vista's Tablet PC features rocked the house!
Related:
Teching It Easy: Windows Vista Acer Ferrari 5000 - Review

Technorati tags: Windows Experience Blog, HP, HP tx1000, Tablet PC, Review