Microsoft Arc Mouse (Red) - Review

Arc, Arc, Arc! By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla Microsoft recently released the Microsoft Arc Mouse which merges the weight and portability of a notebook mouse with the feel and function of a full-sized mouse. Microsoft has created some stellar mice in its history and it seems that this strange looking mouse is consistent with the quality and feel we have come to expect from Microsoft. Looking like the head of one of those Battle Droids from Star Wars, the Arc mouse maintains a solid feel despite taking up half the space of a traditional mouse. The review continues with more photos after the break Getting the Microsoft Arc Mouse out of the box is an experience in itself. They may as well have cryogenically frozen it in a slab of ice. It requires some dexterity and some sharp implements to pry the Arc Mouse out of its bulletproof plastic casing. We think Microsoft can learn a thing or two about environmentally friendly and hassle-free packaging. I guess they had to go through great lengths to deter thieves, but still it is a painful process. The mouse itself is everything that its packaging is not. Light, sleek and simple, it will elicit mixed reactions. We liked it, our better half found it weird looking. We love that the USB wireless adapter is the smallest one we've seen. Check it out below in comparison to a two-year-old one from Microsoft. Available in Black and Red, we opted for the red one because we felt it looked a bit nicer. The surface where your hand rests is made up of glossy plastic which is reflective enough that you can use it as a mirror to see if anyone is peeping behind you. Paranoid geeks and hackers will, no doubt, like this feature. The scroll wheel is solid and clicks right but we find it a bit noisy. The bottom of the mouse, which holds the battery compartment and the small port where you can magnetically store the eensy-weensy USB dongle is outfitted in a rubber coating, pretty slick. We used the Microsoft Arc Mouse on an Apple MacBook and on an Asus Eee PC 1000HA and it performed flawlessly. Downloading the Microsoft drivers helps extend the functionality. Tracking is sensitive and accurate even on uneven surfaces. We find it a bit light but I guess that's the idea. Battery life is estimated at 6 months on two AAA batteries, which is a lot for something that's on all the time. Microsoft was thoughtful enough to include the batteries as well as a neat carry case made of faux leather. This is clearly a fashion-oriented mouse that focuses on the coolness factor but which has all the obvious benefits of Microsoft's well developed mouse line. While it looks really cool, the Arc Mouse will not win everyone's heart. Mice are extremely personal objects and the primary way we interface with our technology so the more "out there," the designs are then the more of an opinion you will elicit from people. Love it or hate it, it is a solidly built and innovative device. Geeks will want more features and even more buttons but that's not what the Arc Mouse is all about. Minimalist elegance and maximum portability that offers a full-sized mouse experience is what it is all about. We do have a feeling that these will be collector's items in the near future. We can recommend the Microsoft Arc Mouse for frequent travelers or coffee shop surfers who tire of their trackpads and trackpoints. Gamers, graphic designers and office dwellers may want something more substantial in weight and feel. The Microsoft Arc Mouse can be found for roughly $70 Canadian. Pricey for what it is, but considering its build quality, portability and the fact that it offers a built-in rear-view mirror, we think some people will go for it. Online retailers, it seems, sell it for less.

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Hands on with Asus Eee PC 1000HA

The ASUS Eee PC model 1000HA (without the Wireless N and Bluetooth) was a revelation in terms of netbooks. Compared to the smaller, SSD-toting Eee PCs, this one can really be an all day machine. Costing $480 from Canada Computers - this is one netbook that can replace your laptop if you don't mind the missing optical drive and the smaller 10' inch screen. There are a number of features that make the Eee PC 1000HA a compelling netbook option. The 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor is a sprightly beast that can apparently be tuned down to 1.2Ghz on economy mode and boosted to 1.7GHz using the included Super Hybrid Engine application. Running it on power saving mode for this review was just fine. More on the Eee PC 1000HA after the Jump A tiny computer that can easily switch gears is great to have, you can downclock the processor for those long haul flights and kick it into overdrive when trying to beat a deadline or when it is plugged in. We also like the size of the keyboard which is very usable unlike other netbook keyboards which are absolute hell to type on. The keys themselves could be a bit stiffer but everything else about the keyboard is spot on except for the nagging placement of a page up button where the shift button should be. The touchpad is too sensitive and we managed to click and close browser windows we were still reading. Still it is of ample size and works well. Atom inside Running Windows XP, we popped in a 2GB RAM stick and the Eee PC seems to be snappier than a similar spec ThinkPad X60s which has a low power 1.6GHz Core Duo processor. Is the Atom Processor really that much faster? Its doubtful but we're more concerned about the battery life and the alleged 6-7 hours squeezed out of the Eee PCs 6 cell battery. We'll have more info on that as we put it through its paces. With Windows XP, this netbook runs efficiently and is fast for most uses. We threw on Google Chrome and it just flew, loading websites quickly and with minimum fuss. It is also whisper quiet, we have to glue our ears to the vents to hear if the fan is on at all. Same with the heat generation, the Atom processor seems to run cucumber cool while maintaining performance expected of its Pentium pedigree. Look and Feel Although plasticky with a godawful glossy finish, the Eee PC 1000HA feels more substantial and less toylike than the Eee 700. The 10 inch screen, I think, Is the sweet spot for actually getting stuff done. Fit and finish is not bad, nowhere near as solid as the HP netbooks but still pretty good for what you are paying for. The black model can certainly make you feel at home in a corporate setting and it could actually pass for a higher end Fujitsu or even a VAIO subnotebook. Upgrading the RAM is dead easy, two screws allow you to lift a panel that accesses the RAM (one slot only) and the Hard Drive. With the cheap cost of RAM these days, we suggest bumping up your spec to 2GB since this also shares the load of the integrated graphics card. You get three USB 2.0 ports and a card reader which we think should come standard on any notebook since its so convenient to work on your photos when you are travelling. Black Eee PC Conclusion Its hard to pry us away from our new MacBook but this Eee PC is just so darn light and such fun to use. The LED screen on this is gorgeous and makes the purchase price totally worth it. We have brightness down to 1/4 on the dial and it is still brighter than our ThinkPad on full setting. This means turning down the brightness to save battery life won't come at the cost of our eyesight. Yay! The styling is a bit fancy albeit still generic, the construction is solid enough but the battery seems not to lock into the body completely which makes it feel a tad flimsy. Still, for the price, this is one netbook we wouldn't mind taking out for lattes or to long flights. We'll have more info and photos in the coming days as we use the Asus Eee PC 1000HA as our daily driver. ---- UPDATE Read the Full Review on the Asus Eee PC 1000H here!

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Sony Reader Update

Here at the Canadian Reviewer we are big believers in the possibilities of E-ink technology and eBook and eReader devices like Sony’s Personal Reader System and Amazon’s infuriatingly Insular and unavailable Kindle. These devices do one thing simply and well, they allow you to carry and read hundreds of books in electronic format – saving entire forests of tress and cutting down substantially on packaging, transport and storage resources. We’re happy to report that Sony is taking this initiative seriously – slowly adding more content to its eReader store (still limited to US and Canada based users with stores in France and England opening up soon) and it continues to launch new devices. More on the Sony Reader after the jump. The latest Sony Reader, named the PRS-700, integrates touch controls for navigating pages, the ability to highlight text as well as make notes with a stylus. It also comes with a built in reading light which illuminates the surface in those less-than optimal lighting situations. At US $399, it is a hundred dollars more expensive than the current model, the PRS-505, which we have in our labs and have been using extensively. In other news, Amazon’s next Kindle device has been leaked in a series of pictures. The new Kindle seems to have improved on certain aspects like the built-in keyboard but is still awkward. Amazon’s big win is that its device works wirelessly so you can buy books without a computer, its biggest failure is that it is only enabled for US users so even if it has access to more books it still serves a limited amount of users and does not have a global presence. We advocate electronic books, their portability, reduced footprint and cheaper prices. We only hope this movement gains ground as people begin to see the value of eco-friendly book production.

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Nikon D60 – Prosumer and Pro Fun - Review

Nikon has been very busy these past two years securing their foothold in the consumer and prosumer DSLR market. Its popular D40 line of cameras introduced DSLR photography to legions of non-professionals and made it easy for them to take amazing photographs. More after the jump. As a replacement to the famed D40 line, the D60 offers all the benefits of the Nikon system but adds a number of fun features to make photography less technical and much more enjoyable. Nikon’s focus for this segment of the DSLR market is on creativity rather than technical expertise and we believe this will attract even more users to the D60. Rocking a 10.2 Megapixel resolution, a new lens, an innovative dual dust reduction system and enhanced performance features like an orientation sensor for horizontal/vertical shooting, the D60 is well on its way to being the new crowd favorite. Nikon listened to its users and made a list of features and improvements that went into the D60. While the camera body of the D60 is very similar past models, the included lens seems a bit bigger. This is because the AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G lens now comes with vibration reduction technology that ensures fewer blurred photos and missed opportunities. There is also an eye sensor that saves the batter while the LCD turns on or off when it senses the proximity of the users eye. Fun features abound in the D60 and include a number of photo color and effect filters that simulate the more expensive screw-on versions and a stop-motion movie mode that stitches 100 JPEGs into short movies for an interesting time-lapse effect. The D60 utilizes Nikon’s aptly named EXPEED technology to maximize image quality and processing speed. The camera also offers creative features that are designed to allow the optimization and adjustment of images without the need for a computer. Image optimization is achieved through functions like Active D-Lighting (which compensates for strong shadows), and the automatic correction of false eye color when using the built-in flash. With its software, Nikon has essentially removed the tedious process of altering images with programs like Adobe Photoshop and given users the ability to create interesting images on the camera before they even reach a computer. We have used the Nikon D60 and its sibling, the D40 here at The Canadian Reviewer for the past two weeks and love the ease of use, sturdy build quality and the amazing pictures we've been able to take. The D60 is a very capable DSLR which is thoroughly enjoyable to use and is perfect for those who are seriously considering getting into DSLR photography for the first time. The D40 may be simpler but it would be a better choice for a first time DLSR buyer. Black's Photography recently had the D40 body on sale for $329. Canadian - a great bargain for a great camera. Inheriting a lot of the technology found on more expensive DLSRs, the Nikon entry level DSLRs D40 and the D60 offer first time buyers a great package and many easy ways to take amazing pictures while learning the intricacies of DSLR photography.

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