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"PC Tech"
This sleek laptop is based on Intel’s Core i3 mobile processor that is dual core and multithreaded running windows 7 64-bit which is strange because Acer only installed 3 GB but it can be upgraded. Other features include a 250 GB hard drive, Intel HD Graphics, DVD burner and standards like Wi-Fi and surprisingly no Bluetooth. The Core i3 370M processor runs at 2.4 Ghz which can handle multitasking with ease. Not the same ease like a desktop computer but reasonable for a laptop. 15 inch is not a lot of screen space at a widescreen resolution of 1366 by 768 but it is still manageable. Other features include a VGA and HDMI out that can handle 1080p resolution because of the HD graphics of the laptop.
Acer Aspire 5742
Design
The design of this laptop is thin and beautiful with all black finish with the keyboard spread-out all the way to the edges on both the left and right because there is a num-pad on the right hand side just like a desktop keyboard. The keys are soft to touch and I fear that characters are going to fade but I could be wrong. There are only 3 stickers on which is the Intel logo, Windows 7 and Acer’s product sticker which makes it clutter free. Touch-Pad or as Acer calls it smart-pad is place just slightly to the left close to the Intel and windows 7 logo. The widescreen makes for small bezels on the left and right
Performance
There is a 1.3 megapixel camera which can take pictures and videos using Skype or Acer’s own software at different resolutions. The thing is that framerate goes from 30 fps to 8 fps once you crank up the resolution of the shot from 640 by 480 to 1280 by 800 respectively. Smartphones have better cameras that can shoot 720p videos
This laptop has a 6 cell, lithium-ion battery that can run for 4 hrs unplugged if you are just browsing the internet
Flash videos are a breeze with this laptop up to 720 on full screen. 3GB memory is enough for most applications but will quickly run out if you open lots of tabs in browsers or working with Photoshop.
Torchlight runs at an average of 28fps according to FRAPS benchmark utility. Crysis 2 at 800 by 600 ran at an average of 5 fps on lowest details. For detailed memory performance, I decided to use the popular AIDA64 and the results are below
AIDA 64 Acer Aspire 5742 memory benchmark
Pros
- Fast Intel Core i3 mobile processor with hyper-threading
- Nice keyboard layout with numpad
- 3 GB of DDR3 memory
- HDMI out
- Good Intel HD graphics
- Quiet
Cons
- 1.3 Megapixel camera is sluggish at high resolutions
- Junkware
- One good speaker – unless mine came broken or Acer decided on a one speaker design.
- Weak battery
The Aspire 5742 laptop with Intel i3 370M and HD graphics is an overall good package with decent performance
Evernote for Android
If you like keeping records of everything on notepad or sticky notes or you need to write down things for shopping at the grocery store, Evernote is the best application to assist you with this task. Evernote is available for iPhone, android devices, windows mobile, and blackberry and PCs and MACs unfortunately not in Windows Phone 7 marketplace at the moment. Type up what you want to do in Africa and access your list in Tokyo when connected to a network with data access. Save pictures, files, add tags, etc. The new widgets have gotten a visual make-over for easy access to everything. You can also add location to notes if you want to. Sharing to Facebook and other apps like Gmail or twitter. Evernote is probably the best cloud app that allows you to remember everything.
SugarSync Logo
SugarSync online backup is the best backup, file syncing and sharing solution anyone can have around the home or business. I have tried several backups but SugarSync is the best all-around because of the following reasons:
- Free 5 GB storage
- You get a 30 day trial to use sugarsync on 3 computers for 30 GB or more.
- The best syncing between different platforms which can sync data and photos from and to your mobile phones no matter where you are on the planet as long as you have an internet connection. Open a file anywhere in the world and edit it then see your files sync to every platform
SugarSync for Android
- You can sync 3 computers or devices together and also offline syncing
- Backup is done automatically every time you change files or edit a document. It is so good that even when a document is part downloaded, it is backing up.
- Remote access to your files from any browser on personal sugarsync website and also share them
There are other features that sugarsync provides that can be covered by just writing but rather experiencing it for yourself.
Your data is important and backing it up is crucial so you don’t lose those birthday pictures or your final thesis or financial excel files. You can download sugarsync app on various marketplaces on your mobile phone and for PC and Macs on their website. I could not find sugarsync for Windows Phone 7 marketplace but it will be coming soon I hope.
SugarSync folder for PC
The 3 things you need to do is:
- Download PC Remote from www.PCRemoteServer.com install on your PC. It will automatically recognise your computer name and IP address which might look like this: 192.168.0.
- Download PC remote from Windows Phone 7 marketplace. Open marketplace on your phone, click the search button and type in “PC Remote”. The application looks like this
. This is a free app - Get a router that will automatically give IP addresses to both your windows phone and PC. Most people might already have one and in this case, you are golden.
 PC Remote Server on your PC |
 Windows Media Center control for PC Remote Windows Phone 7 |
Once you start the program on windows phone 7, it will ask you to input computer name and IP Address which you can find by opening the same program installed on your computer. You get keyboard controls, mouse controls, lots of Windows media Center controls, windows media player and a shut down button. There are some microseconds of delay while interacting with the interface but it is OK. This is a great app and highly recommended if you use your PC a lot while sitting down and you do not want to buy a remote and bluetooth for your PC.
AMD has released HD 6990 today, read the reviews
Hothardware
Anandtech
Bit-tech
Bjorn3D
Hardwareheaven
Hexus.net
Legit Reviews
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Pcper
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Techreport
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Dice is sitting on Gold with Battlefield 3… watch out for one the best human movement in a video game, animation and killer graphics…. I know it is still too early to tell if you play the whole game.. enjoy
Avast Internet Security is my favourite web protection software and they have recently released version 6 with new features and improvements to the engine.
The New features are:
Avast WebRep: This provides website reliability and reputation rating plugin for your various browsers.
SafeZone: This is perfect for shopping or banking or anything that involves you giving away your pin numbers or account numbers. Avast opens a clean desktop with a chrome powered browser, providing a clean, secure interface to browse online or shop. Only available in Avast Pro and Internet Security Only
AutoSanbox: Suspicious applications run in virtual sandbox environment. Only available in Avast Pro and Internet Security Only
Support for 64-bit platforms like Windows 7 and Vista
Other features that have been improved include: web shield, script shield, antivirus and anti-spyware engine, etc.
Join 140 million people and download it here.
Avast AutoSandbox
Microsoft has released first service pack for Windows 7. If you have been keeping up with updates, then this should be a light install otherwise it will take much longer. This is an aggregate of all the fixes from Microsoft since Windows 7 was released … Grab it here
Windows 7 Service Pack 1
