May 31, 2006, 9:06 AM PDT
Dell's 24-inch LCD monitor gets a face-lift
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Today Dell announced the latest refresh of its UltraSharp line, debuting the Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP. This 24-inch wide-screen LCD replaces the very popular Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW, which we reviewed last year. We had a little hands-on time with the 2407WFP last week and found it to be very similar to its predecessor, with a few minor upgrades and a low $949 price.

The Dell UltraSharp 2407WFP's design follows that of the other updated UltraSharps, and we expect it will have the same smooth adjustment capabilities including portrait/landscape pivot, panel tilt, side-to-side swivel, and back and forward tilt. We also expect the 2407WFP to wobble slightly, just as we've experienced with similarly designed UltraSharps. The inputs on the back panel consist of one upstream and two downstream USB 2.0 ports, DVI-D and VGA signal inputs, a 12-volt audio jack for connecting an optional Dell Sound Bar speaker, plus composite, component, and S-Video ports for connecting a VCR or DVD player. Along the left side of the monitor are two more USB 2.0 ports and a 9-in-2 media card reader. Like its UltraSharp siblings, the 2407WFP's cable management is a bit sparse: the display's slender neck has only a simple rectangular cutout through which to thread the cables.

The 2407FPW's onscreen menu (OSM) has the same horizontal layout we saw on the Dell UltraSharp 2007WFP. This OSM is set along the monitor's bottom bezel and each adjustability option has its own submenu; you must navigate through the submenu to select settings. A dedicated button on the monitor's control panel launches picture-in-picture and picture-by-picture functions, and another dedicated button allows you to switch between inputs.

The native resolution for this display is 1,920x1,200, and Dell rates the UltraSharp 2407WFP with a 6-millisecond gray-to-gray response time and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio--both specs are improved over the 2405FPW. Dell has also added high-definition content protection (HDCP) to the 2407WFP.

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April 11, 2006, 5:17 PM PDT
Another blank keyboard
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Though there aren't a lot of competitors in the blank keyboard market, Das Keyboard saw fit to update its original iteration with the Das Keyboard 2. We took a look at the Das Keyboard last year and found that eliminating letters from the keys really did help us type faster. After 20-or-so years of typing, my fingers know their way to the keys; my eyes just look out of habit. That said, I missed the marking on the less frequently used keys, such as insert and scroll lock.

Little has changed for Das Keyboard 2 in terms of markings--it still has none, which gives it an all-black, "I'm superior to your lettered keyboard" look. The design is slightly changed, but it still looks like a run-of-the-mill keyboard. Metadot, the makers of Das Keyboard, state that the Das Keyboard 2 is equipped with "gold-plated mechanical key switches that offer a distinct, tactile click feeling." I definitely noticed a click feel--and a very, very loud clicking sound that annoyed the hell out of my cubemate. In addition to the gold-plating, the F and J keys have a slightly deeper indent than the rest, allowing your fingers to find the "home row" faster. My fingers felt the difference, but I'm not sure how helpful it was in guiding me "home."

Despite its loud clicking, the Das Keyboard 2 is a novel concept and even a conversation piece if you're prone to having tech-related conversations (which we are). And if you're hoping to type faster with less reliance on glancing down at the keys, the Das Keyboard 2 could be the solution. But for its $90 asking price, you could have the Logitech Cordless Desktop LX 700, which includes a mouse, media controls, and keys with markings on them.

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March 08, 2006, 1:46 PM PST
Logitech announces more peripherals at CeBit
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Logitech is on a roll announcing peripherals at CeBit, with four new Webcams and a plethora of other home-entertainment and audio products. In the input-device category, Logitech announced four laser mice to target niche audiences: gamers, left-handers, notebook PC users, and desktop PC users.

The first mouse, one made especially for lefties, is the Logitech MX610--we reviewed the right-handed version in 2005. Just like the rightie-only version, the new MX610 features e-mail and instant-messaging alerts, as well as volume controls, two programmable thumb buttons, and a four-way scrollwheel. This is one of the few mice on the market made specifically for lefties, and it will be available in early April for $59.99.

The Logitech MX400 Precision Laser mouse, which is aimed at desktop PC users, will hit shelves in April for $39.99. This corded mouse is meant for everyday use; it offers two thumb buttons, which we assume default to forward and back functions, and a tilt scrollwheel. In the notebook mouse category, Logitech introduced the V150 Laser Mouse for Notebooks. This corded mouse features plug-and-play functionality and will be available in June for $29.99. It looks suspiciously similar to Microsoft's Notebook Optical Mouse 3000, with racing stripes on the side, but the Logitech version costs about $6 less and looks slightly larger. The V150 features tilt-wheel functionality, but it doesn't have any extra function buttons.

Lastly, Logitech is offering an upgrade to its G7 gaming mouse, which we reviewed in 2005. The updated version, which will be available only in Europe, has a new color--a sleek two-tone black--and comes with a travel case, making the G7 easily portable to LAN parties and beyond. There's no word on whether this option will be available in America anytime soon.

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March 08, 2006, 11:07 AM PST
Logitech debuts four new Webcams at CeBit
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Logitech Webcams may be known for their good performance, but it's their large eyeball design that has made them one of the most recognizable shapes in the Webcam industry. Today at CeBit, Logitech released four new Webcams, and though the company stuck with the eyeball design, these cameras are substantially smaller: a mere 1.7 inches wide--33 percent smaller than previous eyeball models, such as the Logitech QuickCam Pro 4000

This new series of Webcams includes the Logitech Quick Cam Connect (or in the United States, Logitech QuickCam IM), QuickCam Messenger, QuickCam Chat, and QuickCam Express. All four of these Webcams feature a clawlike clip (we've seen similar stands from Creative) that's most compatible with thin LCD screens or laptop screens but can also sit on a desk. Though these kinds of clips will secure the Webcam to your monitor, we wish Logitech had integrated the flexible and more modern-looking tail design we've seen on the QuickCam Fusion and QuickCam Pro 5000. The QuickCam Connect and QuickCam Messenger Webcams each feature an integrated microphone, but we hope they include headphones in the package, as most built-in microphones pick up a lot of ambient noise. Logitech?s newest QuickCam Webcams will come in a variety of colors, and in some regions, Logitech will offer interchangeable faceplates that allow people to personalize the cameras.

All four Webcams are fairly low price, falling in the $24.99 to $39.99 range, and we're excited to see how their performance stacks up to Logitech's more expensive Fusion and Pro 5000 offerings.

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February 23, 2006, 4:40 PM PST
Lapinator adds Mousitizer
Posted by: Lara Luepke

No, we're not making these names up. About a year back, we reviewed a laptop accessory called the Lapinator. The 13-inch, insulated lap desk protects legs (and other regions) from the heat generated by laptops. We liked the Lapinator, but we didn't like that it lacked a mousing surface.

A couple of days ago, we received a package in the mail from the kind folks at Lapinator, and to our delight, they've developed the Mousitizer, a plastic mousing surface that slides onto the side of the Lapinator. The accessory is easy to attach, and it can be affixed to the left or right side of the Lapinator. The Mousitizer is surprisingly stable, and with a 6-by-8-inch mousing area, it's large enough to handle a full-size mouse. It's also lightweight, only 5 ounces, maintaining the Lapinator set's travel-friendly size and weight. The Mousitizer is backwards compatible; it'll fit on any Lapinator, new or old.

The folks at Lapinator also added the 18-inch version Lapinator Plus to the product line. This larger version of the original weighs just more than a pound and should appeal to users of larger laptops.

Both the Mousitizer and the Lapinator Plus are available at lapinator.com for $9.99 and $29.95, respectively.

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February 23, 2006, 2:03 PM PST
Samsung adds another 204 to its SyncMaster line
Posted by: Lara Luepke

This week, Samsung released the SyncMaster 204B. If you're thinking, "Wait, didn't CNET already review this?" the answer is no--you're thinking of the SyncMaster 204T. And to further confuse the issue, the two have very similar specs. Until my profane phone calls to vendors finally produce less similar, less confusing names, we'll just have to be very clear. At least Samsung threw a bone by giving the 204B a slightly different design and a faster response time.

The 204B (the just-released monitor) is for business and home users and at $629.99 is a bit pricey for a 20-inch monitor; we like to see them less than $600. As with any Samsung LCD, you'll get the "magic" utility suite, which includes advanced color adjustment options and brightness settings to ensure an optimized picture. And with the 204B Samsung pulled another trick out of its magic bag with the addition of MagicSpeed, which is Samsung's way of saying this monitor has a fast 5-millisecond response time.

The 204B isn't wide-screen, it has a 1,600x1,200 resolution, and it offers all the flexibility we like to see in a monitor, including height adjustment, swivel, panel tilt, and landscape/portrait-pivoting capabilities. Its 800:1 contrast ratio is slightly higher than average, and it offers digital and analog connections as well as video inputs. Based on the 204B's specs, only a faster response time, a slightly higher contrast radio, and video inputs separate it from the 204T, which costs slightly less at $599. We're anxious to get the 204B in the Labs and see what difference a letter makes.

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February 23, 2006, 1:27 PM PST
BenQ releases two new but basic LCD monitors
Posted by: Lara Luepke

BenQ recently announced two new monitors for business or home use: the 19-inch FP93G and the 17-inch FP73G. With fairly standard specs, including 300cd/m² brightness and a 700:1 contrast ratio, the only standout feature we saw listed on BenQ's press release was the fairly fast 6-millisecond response rate.

With 1,280x1,024 resolutions, these are standard-aspect monitors, and to their credit, both offer digital and analog input. BenQ mentions screen tilt but no other flexibility, and the base doesn't look like it has a built-in lazy Susan.

At low price points of $299 for the 17-inch and $329 for the 19-inch, these LCDs are priced well--on a par with other bargain monitors we've seen from companies such as Envision, Westinghouse, and Dell. We're guessing that these average-looking, average-priced monitors with average specs will be average performers--but we've been wrong before.

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December 13, 2005, 12:09 PM PST
Toshiba's new low-cost projector
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Today, Toshiba released the TDP-T9U, a low-cost projector aimed at mobile professionals and the small to midsize business market.

This pint-size projector is 9 inches wide, 8 inches deep, and 3.5 inches thick, and it weighs only 4.4 pounds, making it an ultraportable option for travelers or companies who need to easily move a projector from room to room.

It lacks a couple of features we'd like to see, such as automatic zoom and focus, as well as automatic keystone correction; unfortunately with the TDP-T9U, all these adjustments must be made manually. Its brightness is a fairly low 2000 ANSI lumens, but it should be enough for daytime viewing in a small conference room.

The included remote comes with a laser pointer and has dedicated volume buttons as well as buttons for moving pages forward and back in a presentation. It has a built-in two-watt speaker and comes with a very handy soft carrying case. The port array on the projector's backside is minimal but offers basic video, audio, and RGB inputs.

Though its MSRP of $1,099 doesn't place it with the least-expensive budget projectors, this Toshiba model could be a viable solution for presenters who need a portable system. Keep an eye out for it on shelves soon.

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November 18, 2005, 12:43 PM PST
Webcams to the rescue
Posted by: Lara Luepke

Turns out Webcams are useful for more than chatting with your friends and workmates. In a story reported by the Associated Press, a son, living in the Philippines, saw his mother lying motionless on her living-room floor in California through a Webcam. The son in the Philippines phoned his brother in Norway who was able to alert authorities in California.

The brothers were able to watch the paramedics rescue their mother, and she's now recovering at a California hospital.

We've touted the usefulness of Webcams for keeping in touch from across the globe, and on occasion, their usefulness in keeping an eye on things when you're not around, but this story gives that idea a whole new meaning.

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November 15, 2005, 4:01 PM PST
LaCie announces business LCDs
Posted by: Lara Luepke

We've become familiar with LaCie's high-end LCDs that are geared toward graphics professionals. But today LaCie went for a broader market in announcing a line of LCDs geared toward business users.

These new 100-series LCDs will have height-adjustable stands, as well as panels that tilt and swivel. And since these monitors are made for business uses, they advertise a high 1,000:1 contrast ratio but a slow 20-millisecond response time.

We've looked at the LaCie 319 and the LaCie 321 and were very pleased with the image quality (though they're very expensive monitors). We're hoping that this new line will deliver a good balance of price and performance. The 19-inch LaCie 190 will cost a reasonable $429, while the 20-inch will cost $699. They'll be available from retailers in late November.

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