Users who want a Windows 7-based notebook that looks like an Apple Macbook should check out the Envy. This well-constructed 13-incher from HP is slim and can get the job done thanks to its powerful hardware. However, its high price tag may put off some users, especially now that there are notebooks with similar specifications selling for a fraction of its price.
Mendelson Tiu
BenQ Now Offering 27 LED Monitors
BenQ announced that it now has 27 different LED monitors to suit any user. The new screens use less energy, are greener, and brighter than conventional displays.
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According to BenQ, LED panels are mercury free making them more readily recycled at end of life, while their manufacture does not pollute our waterways making them the clear environmental choice. Its entire range of LED-backlit monitors are thinner, lighter and provide a contrast ratio up to 10,000,000:1. They are also extremely energy efficient, using around 30 per cent less energy than conventional CCFL displays.
“When set to ‘eco mode’ a feature of BenQ Proprietary Senseye 3 technology found on all BenQ LED-backlit monitors, the monitors consume a further 30 per cent less power again, making the full power saving in excess of 60 per cent and on some models, up to 71 per cent is evident, which theoretically means that a household or business could more than halve the amount of energy they currently consume powering their computers,” says BenQ.
BenQ Australia’s General Manager, Chee Chung said, “With more than twenty years expertise in developing display products of the highest standards, BenQ will continue to lead the market with strong competencies and market intelligence, and it is BenQ’s belief that Full HD16:9 LED monitors will quickly become the benchmark for visual enjoyment.”
“LED panels offer a number of benefits over conventional LCD displays. While it might take a few minutes for LCD to power up, LED is ‘instant-on’ and flicker-free. In a nutshell, you will get a clean crisp, stable picture in a sophisticated looking product which draws less energy and may actually pay for itself in energy savings within it’s lifespan, depending on how much it is used,” added Chung.
BenQ’s range, incorporating 27 different models of Full HD 16:9 LED monitors range in price from $149.00 to $549.00.
New D-Link VPN Router For Home Offices
D-Link has rolled out a new VPN router with 4-port switch designed for small and home offices.
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The D-Link DIR-330 can create a secure, encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) allowing up to eight remote users to access a central network through the Internet simultaneously. It can be connected to a cable or DSL line to share high-speed Internet access and doubles as a 4-port full-duplex 10/100 switch to connect up to 4 Ethernet-enabled devices.
The router also functions as a wireless 802.11g/802.11b access point to connect wireless devices to your network. The DIR-330 encrypts all wireless transmission using WPA or WPA2 to ensure wireless security. It also protects the network from online intruders and potential attacks with Dual Active Firewall protection using Network Address Translation (NAT) and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) technologies.
D-Link Australia and New Zealand’s Marketing Director, Maurice Famularo said, “With small businesses becoming increasingly network dependent, the need to invest in a reliable networking and security solution is crucial,” said Maurice Famularo, Marketing Director, D-Link Australia & New Zealand. “The D-Link DIR-330 offers high return on investment through robust security features, flexible configuration and superb network protection for small and home office networks.”
The D-Link DIR-330 Wireless G NetDefend Broadband VPN Router with 4-Port Switch is available now with recommended retail prices of $275.
BenQ Unveils 27-inch Full HD LCD Monitor
BenQ has launched a 27-inch LCD monitor that displays images in 1080p and can be used as a main desktop display, secondary monitor, or a screen for HD gaming.
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The M2700HD is a 16:9 LCD monitor that claims to deliver better sight and sound via its 50,000:1 Dynamic Contrast Ratio, 400-nit brightness, patented Senseye Human Vision Technology, and a 10-watt EmbracingSound surround sound system.
Ports found on the M2700HD include two HDMI 1.3 connectors, component, composite, and SPDIF for all office and entertainment needs.
Ideal as a main desktop display, multi-monitor setup, or as a second display to a notebook, the large-format 27-inch size affords higher work productivity with less scrolling and more content display.
The M2700HD visually outperforms similar-sized/-priced TVs as it displays images in Full HD 1080p. The Senseye Human Vision Technology innately optimises picture quality via six proprietary calibration techniques encompassing brightness, dynamic contrast ratio, hue, saturation, 3D noise reduction, and dual-trace sharpness.
In addition, the Senseye 3 digital image enhancement calibrates true colors in all multimedia and office display scenarios via the 6 preset viewing modes: Standard (office and Internet), Movie (DVD and TV), Game, Photo, sRGB (for 100 per cent color consistency across all sRGB devices), and Eco (for power-savings) modes.
The native 16:9 aspect ratio likewise promotes uncompromised definition, true-to-source proportions without distortion, and the assurance that every pixel on the screen is utilized.
It also comes with EmbracingSound, a new stereo surround technology that enables the listener to experience their content’s full spatial information. Five surround sound modes (Standard, Movie, Game, Pop, Rock) offer an unrivaled multimedia experience exuding from the integrated 10-watt sound system.
A smart remote control caters to TV-style viewing, enabling the user to switch video sources, adjust audio options, and access the OSD from the couch, the bed, or other distance.
The BenQ M2700 is available now for $799.
Learn More About E-Retailing At Upcoming Expo
The upcoming Online Retailer Expo and Conference will showcase various e-commerce technology, digital marketing and e-retailing solutions. It will be held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre from 6-9 July 2010.
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The event also incorporates workshop intensives, networking and social events, and the Online Retail Industry Awards recognising excellence in online and multichannel retailing.
Online Retailer is designed to help you and your team maximise the performance of your retail websites, maximise marketing ROI and optimise your profits.
Venue: Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Contact: info@onlineretailer.net or +617 5574 0747
Website: www.onlineretailer.net
Plantronics Bluetooth Earpiece Charges As You Go
Plantronics has unveiled a new Bluetooth earpiece that comes with a charging case, allowing users to triple the talk time of the device.
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In a press briefing this morning, Peter Petrides, National Retail Sales Manager of Plantronics Australia, said that the new Discovery 975 moves away from the conventional rectangular design and is aimed a consumers who want a lightweight headset that is packed with a lot of features and easy to use.
The Discover 975 picks up from where its predecessor left off, with the new device sporting improved noise cancellation and audio quality. It comes with two microphones that cancels background noise, reduces wind noise with its ‘WindSmart’ technology, and claims to have an adaptive 20-band equaliser that delivers rich, full voice.
The highlight of the Discovery 975 is its carrying case – it comes with an LCD screen that not only displays the earpiece charge level, but also displays the remaining battery life. Once the earpiece is docked, it automatically charges it and will provide users with an additional 10 hours of talk time.
“Consumers expect great outbound noise cancellation in a premium headset, without sacrificing usability, comfort, and quality. We’ve spent nearly five decades perfecting all aspects of headset design from inbound audio quality to fit. For customers seeking the perfect blend of innovative design and advanced audio technologies, the Discovery 975 is the solution,” said Petrides.
The Plantronics Discovery 975 will be available starting 1 April 2010 and through major telco stores and will have an RRP of $179.95.
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge An Affordable Option
The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge is aimed at business users who want a notebook that is portable, easy to use and affordable. For $999, this 13-incher offers good performance, various connectivity options, and has features that will help you preserve important data files.
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Opening the lid reveals a glossy 13-inch LED-backlit screen and an all-new keyboard design. The keys on this spill-resistant, “island-style keyboard” are well-separated and curved, making it easy for us to type documents. Lenovo has also swapped the function keys, putting priority on special functions such as turning on the webcamera or increasing/decreasing the volume rather than the default F1-F12 function.
If this feature is not useful, a user can simply go to the BIOS setup utility and change the Default settings to ‘Legacy’. The unit also comes with a TrackPoint and a multi-gesture touchpad for added versatility.
The Edge is powered by a 1.5GHz AMD Athlon Neo X2 L325 dual-core processor and has an ATI Radeon HD 3200 graphics card, allowing users to create presentations or show videos without problems. The unit has 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and comes pre-installed with Windows 7 Professional (32-bit), Norton Internet Security, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe Flash Player, Microsoft Office 2007 (60-day trial), Microsoft AutoCollage, Windows Live Essentials, and Skype.
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Lenovo has also included utilities that help you make the most out of the notebook. The Power Manager can shift between high performance and high energy savings, change sleep and display settings, and show battery status (charge completion time, cycle count, and status). The Access Connections will scan and display all available wireless networks and connects with a single click. Also available is Lenovo’s ThinkVantage Toolbox, a program that helps you keep your computer running at peak performance, diagnose hardware problems, and access all of Lenovo’s software.
The 13.3-inch LED screen is bright and produces good colours, but its reflective finish gets annoying especially when watching movies. The speakers located at the bottom of the notebook produced good audio so long as it is not pushed. Users who plan to watch TV shows or movies on the Edge can expect it to last for more than three hours (the unit lasted for 192 minutes in our video playback test).
The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge is a good notebook for business users. We loved the new keyboard layout, bright screen, touchpad and TrackPoint options, and easy to use utilities. This 13-inch notebook is available now for $999.
ACMA Urges Re-registering Of Do Not Call Numbers
The ACMA has urged people who signed up for the Do Not Call Register in 2007 to re-register to avoid getting unwanted telemarketing calls.
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According to the Australian Communications and Media Authority, registrations for the Do Not Call Register are valid for three years. Anyone who signed up when the service was launched in May 2007 should re-register now to maintain protection from unwanted marketing calls.
The Chairman of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Chris Chapman said, “It’s now time to re-register your numbers if you want to make sure you don’t receive telemarketing calls. Any numbers not re-registered by their three-year expiry deadline will be automatically removed from the register. So the best way to protect yourself from the days when you’d sit down to dinner and the telemarketing calls would start is to re-register your numbers now.”
There are currently more than 4.3 million home, mobile and VoIP numbers on the Do Not Call Register, with 93 per cent of people who registered noticing a reduction of telemarketing calls.
‘It’s fast, free and easy – simply call 1300 792 958 or go to www.donotcall.gov.au, where you can learn more and re-register,’ concluded Chapman.
Telstra Gets 1.3 Million Wireless Broadband Customers
Telstra announced that it now has 1.3 million wireless broadband customers. This increase of customers, according to the company, is driven by the demand for prepaid wireless broadband which was launched in September 2008.According to the Telstra Half Year Results, wireless broadband revenue grew by 31.9 per cent to $368 million. “This has been driven by continued customer growth with SIOs up 279k in the half to 1.325 million and 73.2 per cent from the prior corresponding period, driven by consumer demand for prepaid wireless broadband which was only launched in September 2008.”
Chief Executive Officer David Thodey said, “New product bundles and competitive pricing offers introduced by Telstra over the past few months have already been well received by our customers, as well as attracting interest from new customers.”
“Telstra will continue to invest in new products and services and improved customer service so we can return to revenue growth, and regain the market share that we have lost in this half,” added Thodey.
Regulate Social Website Usage In The Office Says AVG
While social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook can be used by companies as a valuable marketing channel, AVG has urged business owners to monitor how employees use the websites.
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Security expert and professor in the Computer Science department at Columbia University, Herbert Thompson said that people may post personal details such as their Mother’s maiden name, which is often used by secure web sites as password prompts.
“People are posting indiscriminately – they throw weird information out there. What has happened is there has been a growth in the technology for information sharing but not a commensurate education in what information we should share,” says Thompson.
Companies should then consider creating and enforcing regulations on how social networking sites should be used, especially in relation to company business.
“Ignoring the increased usage and influence of social networking and Web 2.0 tools leaves organisations at the risk of misuse, potentially leading to the disclosure of sensitive information or misrepresentation of the company,” said Evgeny Kaganer, Ph.D., lead researcher and assistant professor, IESE Business School.
According to Lloyd Borrett, AVG (AU/NZ) Marketing Manager, in addition to developing high-level policies for the use of social networks, there are some simple guidelines that managers can provide to staff to minimise the risks.
“The fact that they are so user friendly makes them dangerous. You don’t mind your friends knowing where you live, or when your birthday is, or what your mother’s maiden name is, but if the bad guys manage to hack into your friend’s account, then they find out that information as well,” said Borrett.
Borrett advises that something as simple as creating separate passwords for each site, that are also different from log-ins for company systems, can be effective. Being generally cautious about who staff interact with and what applications they install is a good guideline.
“Your mother advised you to never talk to strangers. The same goes for social networking sites. If you don’t know who they are, don’t talk to them,” he added.
“Finally, be careful what applications you agree to install. There are a million people developing applications for these sites and something tells me they are not all good guys,” concluded Borrett.








