All New About New Hoda Jazz

The all-new Jazz doesn’t just have a big heart. She’s got lots of room inside. We’ve improved and enlarged what was already one of Australia’s most spacious, best-designed small cars. It’s a car you’ll feel good driving, and one that makes it easy to bring family, friends and all your stuff along.

Even on long trips, Jazz is a great travel companion. She’s got comfortable, supportive seats, easy-to-read information displays and amazing wide-open visibility. Jazz consistently goes beyond the expected. And you’ll love her for it.

Jazz lightens your load...

The all-new Jazz has a lower tailgate. So getting heavy luggage into the hatch takes very little heavy lifting.

...and welcomes you inside

Jazz’s rear doors open to an 80º angle, making it easy to stow luggage, adjust a child seat or simply step in.

Easy seat adjustment

One quick action is all that’s needed to position the seats to a flat position or to bring them back up. How easy is that?

Very smart displays

Jazz’s brilliant, back-lit dashboard displays are as intuitive and readable as they are blazingly attractive.

CD/MP3 compatible

Jazz knows life is better with a soundtrack, so she’s made it easy to plug in your MP3 player and let your music set the scene.

Clever storage design

When it comes to storage, Jazz keeps on giving. Two glove boxes. A front console box. A hidden rear seat box. And ten (yes, ten) drink holders.

The all-new Jazz knows what you want in a small car. And she’s got it in spades. There’s plenty of room – this little car is big inside. Comfortable seats. Great visibility. And attention to detail everywhere you look.

Jazz has the kind of zip that makes freeway driving a breeze. She sips fuel while offering a smooth, quiet ride. Plus, she’s easy to park and great with turns. Give her a go and you’ll agree. Driving Jazz is an absolute joy.

Toshiba Launches AV notebook PCs that integrate TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor "SpursEngineTM "

High-resolution function upscales standard images to high definition quality

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it will enhance its Japanese line-up of industry leading Qosmio AV notebooks with the launch of new models, the Qosmio G50 series and Qosmio F40 series, that integrate the streaming media processing power of the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor SpursEngine™ SE1000 ("SpursEngine™"). Both new series will be brought to market in Japan in late July. In parallel, Toshiba also announced the launch of the new dynabook Qosmio FX, which integrates the latest high performance graphics processor.

As computers continue to add functionality, they are increasingly used to create, edit, download and view video sources at ever-higher definitions. However, image recognition and processing imposes increased burdens on the CPU performance. The SpursEngine™ removes these burdens, and brings powerful new functions to the Qosmio line-up.

Derived from the high performance multi-core technology of the Cell Broadband Engine™^*2*3 and functions as a dedicated co-processor^*4 that supports the smooth handling of high definition video streams, image recognition and image processing. (Cell/B.E.), and combined with Toshiba's advanced image processing technology, the SpursEngine™ integrates four synergistic processing elements (S.P.E.s)

This new processor is designed to remove the burden of processing high definition video data streams from CPU, and it significantly improves processing power and speeds up the handling of multiple, resource-intensive video processing tasks such as conversion of standard definition video content to high definition quality.

The capabilities of the SpursEngine™ go far beyond simply supporting the CPU, and bring a whole range of new features to the new Qosmio G50 series and Qosmio F40 series.

First among these is support for Toshiba’s breakthrough "High-resolution function" that upscales standard definition video sources and bring them to screen in high definition picture quality. This allows users to experience standard DVD video content with high definition quality.

Users viewing video on the new Qosmios can also enjoy other new functions. The "Face navigation function" recognizes and memorizes faces as they appear on screen, and displays them in an easily searched index that can be used to playback video segments featuring a specific person. "Scene Thumb" takes thumbnail snapshots of a user-recorded video, lines them up one after another, and any one can be individually viewed by running the cursor over it. "Scene Thumb" provides users with a unique approach to finding just the moment they want to view. Another feature of thumbnail search is the ability to search by highlight level and section bar, allowing viewers to home on in, for example, heavy applause during a concert video.

The high-end Qosmio G50 series also adds "Gesture Control" for gesture-based interfacing: simple hand movements captured by the PC’s integrated CCD camera, can be used to control video playback and pause, for example, without a mouse or remote controller.

One aspect of the new Qosmio performance that users will really appreciate is its extensive range of recording capabilities. In addition to the ability to upscale standard definition video to high definition quality as it records, the new Qosmios are also able to cut recording time by half, and to boost recording density by a factor of approximately eight—recording up to eight hours of video on the storage capacity usually required for one hour^*5. This is done by real-time compression of high definition digital terrestrial broadcasts into the H.264 format during recording.

Along with the SpursEngine™, the new Qosmios also integrate a complete suite of the latest hardware, including a next generation Intel® CPU processor and the latest NVIDIA graphic accelerator. The result is a platform offering high-speed processing and high-level graphic processing.

Toshiba has also given the new Qosmio PC a more sophisticated and elegant design, by forming a distinctive pattern on the surface of the case during molding. The high-end Qosmio G50 series complement stylish appearance with an 18.4-inch LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio, which adds a new level of dynamism to enjoyment of video sources.

In advancing its strategy of adding differentiating technologies to commodity products, Toshiba also unveiled the dynabook Qosmio FX series, which achieve enhanced graphic processing by integrating the latest NVIDIA graphic accelerator. High speed graphic capabilities make it a great notebook PC for gamers.

Toshiba remains committed to providing users around the world with innovative notebook PCs that bring those new capabilities and heightened convenience. Toshiba also seeks to contribute to lower CO₂ emissions from the home by developing notebook PCs that use less energy than desktop PCs.

Outline of New Models

Qosmio series

Model Name		Launch in Japan	Suggested Retail Price
Qosmio G50	G50/98G	Late July	Open
	G50/97G	Late July
Qosmio F50	F50/88G	Late July

dynabook Qosmio FX series

Model Name		Launch in Japan	Suggested Retail Price
dynabook Qosmio FX	FX/77G	Late July	Open

Key Features of New Products

Qosmio series

1. Integration of TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor "SpursEngineTM".

The new Qosmio G50 series and Qosmio F40 series feature the TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor SpursEngine™, derived from the high performance multi-core technology of the Cell Broadband Engine™^*2 (Cell/B.E.) and combined with Toshiba's advanced image processing technology, that supports the smooth handling of high definition video streams, real time image recognition and image processing. This high performance co-processor makes it possible to remove the burden of processing high definition video data streams from the CPU, and allows smooth handling of HD video content.

(1) High-resolution function:
This function is able to upscale standard-definition video to high-definition video quality, allowing users to enjoy standard DVD video content at high definition quality

(2) Up to eight times recording of digital terrestrial recording:
Users can select from five recording modes: TS mode (MPEG-2, HD quality, rate 17.0Mbps), XP mode (H.264, HD quality, rate 10.0Mbps), SP mode (H.264, HD quality, rate 8.0Mbps), LP mode (H.264, HD quality, rate 5.5Mbps) and LLP mode (H.264, SD quality, rate 2.0Mbps). Real-time compression of high definition digital terrestrial broadcasts into the H.264 format during recording minimize use of storage to approximately one-eighth of that usually required^*5. Therefore, users can record digital terrestrial broadcasts without concern for remaining HDD capacity.

(3) Cutting recording time to DVD discs by half ^*5 :
By shortening the reading time by half when encoding, the new Qosmios allow users to record digital terrestrial broadcast or video content to DVD discs in half the time taken by previous models.

(4) "Face Navigation" function:
a. "Face Thumb" indication
The function recognizes and memorizes faces as they appear on screen, and displays them in an easily searched index that can be used to playback video segments featuring a specific person.

b. "Scene Thumb" indication
“Scene Thumb” takes thumbnail snapshots of a user-recorded video, lines them up one after another, and any one can be individually viewed by running the cursor over it. “Scene Thumb” provides users with a unique approach to finding just the moment they want to view.

c. "Volume Level" indication
This function allows viewers to home on in, for example, heavy applause during sports live coverage or a highlight scene. A section bar allows viewers to indicate specific scenes by different colors, making it even easier to locate favorite moments.

(5) Ulead DVD MovieWriter™ for TOSHIBA
When users record HD video content from a video camera , this function creates a low definition file for editing, allowing users to edit HD content quickly and smoothly. Furthermore, transcoding of such edited HD content can be completed approximately 10 times faster when the SpursEngine™ is activated.

(6) Gesture Control (Qosmio G50 series):
Support for gesture-based interfacing: simple hand movements captured by the PC's integrated CCD camera, can be used to control video playback and pause, for example, without a mouse or remote controller.

2. Advanced audio-visual functions

(1) Integration of REGZA LINK™
By connecting the PC to a Toshiba REGZA™ TV via an HDMI cable, users can enjoy HD video content stored in the PC on a large-screen TV. Users can also control the PC with a single REGZA remote control unit.

(2) Integration of dual digital terrestrial tuners
Users can record two different digital terrestrial programs, even when they are broadcast at the same time, and record one program while watching another.

(3) Support for "Dubbing 10", a new Japanese recording rule
The function allows users to copy digital broadcasts recorded in a HDD up to nine times and move it to different equipment one time.

(4) Small antenna for digital terrestrial broadcast
The new Qosmio 50 series and Qsomio F50 series include an antenna for digital terrestrial broadcast.

3. Integration of the latest processor

With the integration of advanced technology, the new PCs achieve high-speed processing and high graphic indication.

(1) Next generation Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor
Intel's latest 45nm process technology realizes strong high speed system performance with lower power consumption. The new processor lessens burdens when editing large amounts of data or working with multiple applications simultaneously.
* The details and official name of Intel's CPU will be announced on Toshiba's notebook PC web site, http://www.dynabook.com, as soon as it is confirmed by Intel.

(2) Latest NVIDIA graphic accelerator
Designed to get the most from widescreen visual performances, the new PCs integrate the new NVIDA® GeForce®9600 GT, which interfaces with Microsoft® DirectX® 10. Users can enjoy a smooth and impressive video experience, even in high resolution, high definition 3D games or movies.

(3) Latest interfaces
Allows users to transfer large volumes of data from the HDD at a speed approximately 2.5 times faster than USB 2.0.

4. Newly designed external case
With adopting the IMR method, the external features enhance high quality and premium feel thanks to the gradation and finish design in details.

5. Large LCD screen (Qosmio G50 series)
The high-end Qosmio G50 series complements stylish appearance with an 18.4-inch LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio, the same ratio as that of high-definition TVs, which adds the enjoyment of full screen viewing of content.
*With some programs and DVD video sources, black bands might appear at the top and bottom of the screen.

dynabook Qosmio FX series

(1) Next generation Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor
Intel's latest 45nm process technology realizes strong high speed system performance with lower power consumption. The new processor lessens burdens when editing large amount of data or working with multiple applications simultaneously.
* The details and official name of Intel's CPU will be announced on Toshiba's notebook PC web site, http://www.dynabook.com, as soon as it is confirmed by Intel.

(2) Latest NVIDIA graphic accelerator
Designed to get the most from widescreen visual performances, the new PCs integrates the new NVIDA® GeForce®9600 GT, which interfaces with Microsoft® DirectX® 10. Users can enjoy a smooth and impressive experience, even in high resolution, high definition 3D games or movies.

Qosmio series, dynabook series

Environmentally conscious notebook PC

(1) RoHS^*6 and J-Moss (Green Mark)^*7compatible
Toshiba's notebook PCs contribute to achievement of environmentally conscious products .

(2) Toshiba's notebook PCs contribute to lower CO2 emissions.
Use of Toshiba dynabook and Qosmio PCs will contribute to lower CO2 emission from the home by approximately 80g per day^*8, or almost 30kg per year^*9. This is half the level of CO2 emissions from desktop PCs. While Toshiba remains committed to providing users around the world with innovative notebook PCs that bring new capabilities and heightened convenience, Toshiba also seeks to contribute to lower CO2 from the home by developing notebook PCs that use less energy than desktop PCs.

Toshiba Group, a Corporate Citizen of the Planet Earth, is committed to realizing a better environment. Guided by "Toshiba Group Environmental Vision 2050" the Group is implementing measures to boost environmental efficiency by 10 times in FY2050, against the benchmark of FY2000. The core target is to reduce projected CO2 emissions by a total equivalent to 117.7 million tons a year by FY2025, through the development and sales of highly efficient power supply equipment and systems, and the manufacture of environmentally conscious home appliances and office equipment. By working to mitigate global warming, make efficient use of resources and control management of chemicals, Toshiba Group creates value for people and promotes lifestyles in harmony with the Earth.

*1:	SpursEngine and the SpursEngine logo are trademarks of Toshiba Corporation. SpursEngine is only used in the Japanese market; in other regions it is Toshiba’s Quad Core HD Processor.
*2:	Cell Broadband Engine is a trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
*3:	Synergistic Processor Element is a processor core that has high performance floating point computation capability with an original instruction set architecture, for optimized processing of multiple media applications.
*4:	Cell/B.E., jointly developed by IBM, Sony Group and Toshiba, is a breakthrough design featuring a central processing core based on IBM’s Power Architecture technology and eight synergistic processing elements (SPE). Cell/B.E. brings an unseen level of broadband processing power to digital products.
*5:	Comparison between a Toshiba notebook with and without TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor. Performance may vary depending on product model, configuration, video content, format and settings, as well as the performance variations of individual hardware components. Results were achieved on select models and configurations tested by Toshiba at the time of publication.
*6:	RoHS is a European Union environmental directive that eliminates the use of six hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment.
*7:	J-Moss is the framework for disclosure of information on chemical substances defined in the Japanese Industrial Standards contained in electrical and electronic products.
*8:	Calculated as one PCs per person
*9:	CO2 emissions are calculated based on the method developed by the Research Center for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Based on the usage conditions (in households) defined by The Energy Conservation Center, the requirements for calculating LCA are: use for 15 hours per week (operating mode: 10 hours, stand-by mode: 5 hours), based on 52 weeks (one year) and five years of PC usage. The calculation is based on mainstream notebook PC (15-inch LCD with Celeron type CPU) and desktop PCs with similar specifications that are in wide use.

Outline of Key Specifications

As of June 23, 2008

	Qosmio G50/98G	Qosmio G50/97G	Qosmio F50/88G	dynabook Qosmio FX77G
OS	Windows Vista™ Home Premium Edition with Service Pack 1
CPU	Next Generation Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor
Memory/Max	2GB (1GB x 2)/4GB
Display	18.4-inch Full HD Clear Super View LCD (1,920×1080 pixels) 2 lamps, high luminance		15.4-inch WXGA Clear Super View LCD (1,280×800 pixels) 2 lamps, high luminance	15.4-inch WXGA Clear Super View LCD (1,280×800 pixels)
HDD	500GB (250GBx2) (5,400rpm Serial ATA)	250GB (5,400rpm Serial ATA)		200GB (5,400rpm Serial ATA)
Drive	DVD SuperMulti
Graphics	NVIDIA® GeForce® 9600M GT(PCI Express)
Image Processor	TOSHIBA Quad Core HD Processor SpursEngine™			--
Sound	3 speakers (harman/kardon® stereo and sub-wooder)
LAN	1000Base-T,/100Base-T IEEE802.11a/b/g/n draft 2.0 (wireless)
TV tuner	Dual Tuners for Digital Terrestrial Broadcast			--
Interface	Optical audio output, RGB, USB2.0x 4 (one usable for eSATA ) , Mike, iLink, LAN, HDMI, Antenna input			Optical audio output, RGB, USB2.0x 4 (one of them usable for eSATA as well) , Mike, iLink, LAN, HDMI
Battery Life	Approx. 4.0 hrs		Approx. 1.8 hrs	Approx. 2.4 hrs
Dimensions	Approx. 452.3 x 311.0 x 38.2～48.3 mm		Approx. 368.0x 278.0 x 38.0～47.0 mm
Weight	Approx. 4.9kg	Approx. 4.8kg	Approx. 3.6kg	Approx. 3.3kg
Eco	RoHS Directive,J-Moss (Green Mark)
Application	Microsoft® Office Personal 2007 SP1with Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007		Microsoft® Office Personal 2007 SP1with Microsoft® Office PowerPoint® 2007

The details and official name of Intel's CPU will be announced on Toshiba's notebook PC web site, http://www.dynabook.com, as soon as it is confirmed by Intel.

* 1GB is calculated on the basis of 1GB = 1-billion bytes.

• Names of products mentioned in this press release may be registered trademarks or trademarks of specific companies.
• Intel, Intel Centrino, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademarks or trademarks of Intel Corporation.
• Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and in other countries.
• The formal title of Windows is Microsoft Windows Operating System..
• i.Link and i.Link logos are registered trademarks.
• Specifications are subject to change without prior notice.

Jumbo jet of the Year 2008

The Airbus A380 is a double-deck, wide-body, four-engine airliner manufactured by the European corporation Airbus, an EADS subsidiary. The largest passenger airliner in the world, the A380 made its maiden flight on 27 April 2005 from Toulouse, France,^[2] and made its first commercial flight on 25 October 2007 from Singapore to Sydney with Singapore Airlines. The aircraft was known as the Airbus A3XX during much of its development phase, but the nickname Superjumbo has since become associated with it.

The A380's upper deck extends along almost the entire length of the fuselage, and its width is equivalent to that of a widebody aircraft. This allows for a cabin with 50% more floor space than the next-largest airliner, the Boeing 747-400.^[3] and provides seating for 525 people in standard three-class configuration^[4][5] or up to 853 people in all economy class configuration.^[6] The A380 is offered in passenger and freighter versions. The A380-800, the passenger model, is the largest passenger airliner in the world, but has a shorter fuselage than the Airbus A340-600 which is Airbus' next biggest passenger aeroplane. The A380-800F, the freighter model, is offered as one of the largest freight aircraft, with a listed payload capacity exceeded only by the Antonov An-225.^[7] The A380-800 has a design range of 15,200 kilometres (8,200 nmi), sufficient to fly from Boston, Massachusetts to Hong Kong for example, and a cruising speed of Mach 0.85 (about 900 km/h or 560 mph at cruising altitude).^[4] It is the first commercial jet capable of using GTL-based fuel.

by beta Review from wikipedia.com

Technology of "Blue Ray"

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD), is the name of a next-generation optical disc format jointly developed by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), a group of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer and media manufacturers (including Apple, Dell, Hitachi, HP, JVC, LG, Mitsubishi, Panasonic, Pioneer, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, TDK and Thomson). The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. This extra capacity combined with the use of advanced video and audio codecs will offer consumers an unprecedented HD experience. While current optical disc technologies such as DVD, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD-RAM rely on a red laser to read and write data, the new format uses a blue-violet laser instead, hence the name Blu-ray. Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit. The benefit of using a blue-violet laser (405nm) is that it has a shorter wavelength than a red laser (650nm), which makes it possible to focus the laser spot with even greater precision. This allows data to be packed more tightly and stored in less space, so it's possible to fit more data on the disc even though it's the same size as a CD/DVD. This together with the change of numerical aperture to 0.85 is what enables Blu-ray Discs to hold 25GB/50GB. Recent development by Pioneer has pushed the storage capacity to 500GB on a single disc by using 20 layers. Blu-ray is currently supported by about 200 of the world's leading consumer electronics, personal computer, recording media, video game and music companies. The format also has support from all Hollywood studios and countless smaller studios as a successor to today's DVD format. Many studios have also announced that they will begin releasing new feature films on Blu-ray Disc day-and-date with DVD, as well as a continuous slate of catalog titles every month. For more information about Blu-ray movies, check out our Blu-ray movies and Blu-ray reviews section which offers information about new and upcoming Blu-ray releases, as well as what movies are currently available in the Blu-ray format.

The Best Graphics Cards for the Money: August 2008

Detailed graphics card specifications and reviews are great—that is, if you have the time to do the research. But at the end of the day, what a gamer needs is the best graphics card within a certain budget. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_processing_unit

So if you don’t have the time to research the benchmarks, or if you don’t feel confident enough in your ability to make the right decision, fear not. We at Tom’s Hardware Guide have come to your aid with a simple list of the best gaming cards offered for the money.

July Review and August Updates:

July saw some of the fastest dropping prices on high-end cards that we’ve ever seen in the history of these “best gaming graphics cards for the money” articles. While there are always some fluctuations, the prices we researched for July’s article were ancient history halfway through the month! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_card

Things have tapered off a little by now, but we’ll use this opportunity to remind our readers that this article is only a guideline for the prices we’ve seen at the beginning of the month! You’re letting yourself down if you’re not looking for deals when you decide to purchase.

Other than pricing, July started to see availability of Nvidia’s new GeForce 9500 GT, which looks like it will be replacing the 8500 and 8600 series, carrying similar specifications and somewhat slower clock speeds. Even though the raw specifications of the 9500 don’t look all that impressive compared to its older sibling, performance looks promising, and seems to meet or slightly beat its predecessor. It has been rumored that there might be some problems with the 8500/8600 series GPUs, so the 9500 GT could be here to remedy that situation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nvidia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_9_Series

Finally, we’ve started to see glimpses of AMD’s soon-to-arrive high end Radeon 4870 X2, which will sport two 4870 GPUs in a Crossfire configuration on a single card. While we don’t know pricing or availability yet, the preliminary performance numbers look promising—keep your eye out for it! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Micro_Devices

Some notes about our recommendations

A few simple guidelines to keep in mind when reading this list:

• This list is for gamers who want to get the most for their money. If you don’t play games, the cards in this list are more expensive than you need;
• Prices and availability change on a daily basis. We can’t offer up-to-the-minute accurate pricing information, but we can list some good cards that you probably won’t regret buying at the price ranges we suggest;
• The list is based on some of the best U.S. prices from online retailers. In other countries or at retail, your mileage will most certainly vary;
• These are new card prices. No used or open box cards are in the list; they might be a good deal, but that’s outside the scope of what we’re trying to do.

The most wanted 10” WSVG LCD Notebook

The new Eee PC 1000HA is the latest budget netbook model to hit the ASUS lineup. It offers similar features to the already popular Eee PC 1000H, but at a lower retail price of $429. For $50 under the 1000H consumers lose the N-capable wireless card and Bluetooth module, but gain extra padding in their wallet, which is an easy compromise for those on a budget.

Build and Design

The Eee PC 1000HA has a much newer look compared to the original Eee PC 701, with better looking glossy painted surfaces and smoother edges. The overall color pattern is very consistent, with the keyboard and touchpad matching the body color, and brushed metal trim all around the netbook. Compared to other netbooks such as the MSI Wind, the Eee PC 1000HA feels chunky, but some of that is related to the stock 6-cell battery.

Build quality is excellent, with solid plastic making up the body of the 1000HA. It feels rugged enough to withstand the abuse of day to day use, but the glossy finish will show minor scratches and fingerprints. The screen cover does a good job with protecting the LCD panel and with a strong squeeze the panel only shows small area of distortion. Flex in the palmrest is almost nonexistent, but this is quite common on small notebooks since the inside s are packed tight.

For user-serviceable components the Asus Eee PC 1000HA is very upgrade friendly. A single panel houses the hard drive, wireless card, and single ram slot, making the process of swapping out the parts as painless as possible. Another item worth mentioning is the lack of “Warranty void if removed” sticker on that panel.

Display

The 10” LED-backlit display found on the Eee PC 1000HA is easy on the eyes, and a real treat to view for hours on end. Whites are clear, colors are vibrant, and backlit levels are very bright and consistent. While many netbooks get the short end of the stick for some components such as processing power, they easily make up for it in screen quality. The panels found on most netbooks offer better viewing angles and brighter backlight levels. Vertical viewing angles which tend to quickly invert colors on full-size notebooks stay accurate longer on the display found on the 1000HA. Horizontal angles are the same way, allowing the user to easily share a movie with a passenger on either side.

The only real downfall these smaller screens have is limited resolution, which can often causes problems with some applications that require minimum resolutions for menu screens. You can get past this with scaling or screen scrolling, but it is just a downside to the limited screen size in general.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The keyboard is comfortable to type on, but more cramped than one found on a full-size notebook. Key spacing is average for a 10” subnotebook and listed as 95% the size of generic keyboard. Once you get the hang of the layout it doesn’t take long to type at a good pace. Key action is smooth with just a little pressure required to trigger a key. Key wiggle is minimal, meaning the keys stay planted in one place even if you move your fingers side to side on the key pads.

The touchpad is an Elantech model which presented a few quirks in the Windows XP environment. The cursor movement had a bit of lag between the time when your finger moved on the touchpad surface and the cursor started to move on the screen. Another problem that got old very quick is the multitouch surface incorrectly sensing pressure from my palm and fingertip at the same time, causing multitouch features to activate. While good in theory, the notebook lagged when scrolling or zooming webpages in IE, so each time one of these features activated the notebook would freeze until it completed its motion.

Performance and Benchmarks

System performance overall was great. Applications opened without lag and behaved as if they were running on a full-size computer. In certain instances the 1000HA showed some lag under processor intensive activities such as smoothly scrolling a webpage, where the Intel Atom processor spiked upwards of 60%. Boot and shutdown times were very good, letting you break out the netbook and quickly have it up and running when you need to do something. Gaming is out of the question on these small notebooks unless you heavily tweak the game, operating at the lowest resolutions and lowest settings.

PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

Notebook	PCMark05 Score
ASUS Eee PC 1000HA (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	1,527 PCMarks
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	1,446 PCMarks
Acer Aspire One (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	1,555 PCMarks
ASUS Eee PC 901 (1.60GHz Intel Atom)	746 PCMarks
MSI Wind (1.60GHz Intel Atom)	N/A
ASUS Eee PC 900 (900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV)	1,172 PCMarks
HP 2133 Mini-Note (1.6GHz VIA C7-M ULV)	801 PCMarks
HTC Shift (800MHz Intel A110)	891 PCMarks
ASUS Eee PC 4G (630MHz Intel Celeron M ULV)	908 PCMarks
ASUS Eee PC 4G (900MHz Intel Celeron M ULV)	1,132 PCMarks
Everex CloudBook (1.2GHz VIA C7-M ULV)	612 PCMarks
Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600)	2,446 PCMarks
Fujitsu LifeBook P7230 (1.2GHz Intel Core Solo U1400)	1,152 PCMarks
Sony VAIO VGN-G11XN/B (1.33GHz Core Solo U1500)	1,554 PCMarks
Toshiba Portege R500 (1.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U7600)	1,839 PCMarks

wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

Notebook / CPU	wPrime 32M time
ASUS Eee PC 1000HA (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	117.577 seconds
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz)	127.172 seconds
Acer Aspire One (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz)	125.812 seconds
ASUS Eee PC 901 (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz)	123.437 seconds
MSI Wind (Intel Atom @ 1.60GHz)	124.656 seconds
ASUS Eee PC 900 (Intel Celeron M ULV @ 900MHz)	203.734 seconds
HP 2133 Mini-Note (Via CV7-M ULV @ 1.6GHz)	168.697 seconds
ASUS Eee PC 4G (Intel Celeron M ULV @ 630MHz)	289.156 seconds
ASUS Eee PC 4G (Intel Celeron M ULV @ 900MHz)	200.968 seconds
Everex CloudBook (VIA C7-M ULV @ 1.2GHz)	248.705 seconds
Fujitsu U810 Tablet PC (Intel A110 @ 800MHz)	209.980 seconds
Sony VAIO VGN-G11XN/B (Core Solo U1500 @ 1.33GHz)	124.581 seconds
Sony VAIO TZ (Core 2 Duo U7600 @ 1.2GHz)	76.240 seconds
Dell Inspiron 2650 (Pentium 4 Mobile @ 1.6GHz)	231.714 seconds

3DMark06 comparison results:

Notebook	3DMark06 Score
ASUS Eee PC 1000HA (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	95 3DMarks
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	N/A
Acer Aspire One (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	122 3DMarks
Sony VAIO TZ (1.20GHz Core 2 Duo U7600, Intel GMA 950)	122 3DMarks
HP dv2500t (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, NVIDIA GeForce Go 8400M GS 128MB)	1,055 3DMarks
Sony VAIO FZ (2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7300, Intel X3100)	532 3DMarks
HP dv6000t (2.16 GHz Intel T7400, NVIDA GeForce Go 7400)	827 3DMarks

3DMark03 Graphics Performance Benchmark (higher scores indicate better performance):

Notebook	3DMark03 Results
ASUS Eee PC 1000HA (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	788 3DMarks
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	569 3DMarks
Acer Aspire One (1.60GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	751 3DMarks
MSI Wind (1.6GHz Intel Atom, Intel GMA 950)	589 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad T60 (2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T4400, ATI X1400 128MB)	4,622 3DMarks

HDTune for built-in Hard drive:

We also decided to try out the Intel X25-M SSD inside the Asus Eee PC 1000HA to test out its capabilities inside a Vista environment. It turns out the system operated more smoothly through day to day tasks, and even oddities such as the touchpad lag were gone. With only 1GB of memory the system happily allowed Aero to be turned on and still ran flawlessly. Performance benchmarks increased as well, with PCMark05 jumping from 1527 to 2020, and 3DMark06 going from 95 to 133.

Speakers and Audio

The speakers in the ASUS Eee PC 1000HA lack all bass and midrange, and really shouldn’t be used for much other than listening to YouTube videos or the occasional movie. The small size and speaker placement really don’t work out too well in normal use, leaving you to the trusty headphone jack that gives you better volume, better audio quality, and above all else private listening.

Ports and Features

Port selection is normal for a netbook, with the biggest constraint being available real estate along the sides. You get three USB ports, one LAN, headphone/mic, VGA, an SDHC-compatible reader, as well as a Kensington lock slot.

Front: Activity lights

Rear: Battery

Left: Kensington lock slot, LAN, 1 USB, Headphone/Mic

Right: Multi-Card Reader, 2 USB, VGA, AC-power

Heat and Noise

Heat and noise is minimal under normal conditions such as web browsing or typing documents. The palmrest and plastic bezel surrounding the keyboard stay cool to the touch and without the blinking LEDs you might not even realize it was on. The bottom of the netbook is only warm in a few spots, mostly centered on the access panel which covers the hard drive, RAM, and wireless card. When the Eee PC was under more stress, the fan noise became more apparent, and overall system temperatures increased across the board.

Battery Life

Battery life with the 6-cell battery was average, lasting for 4 hours and 28 minutes before it went into standby mode at 5% remaining. This test was performed with the screen brightness set to about 60%, wireless enabled, and the processor working in dynamic switching mode. This was average for netbooks with similar configurations.

What is overclocking?

What is overclocking?

Overclocking is the process of increasing the clock frequency of your Central Processing Unit (CPU), Graphical Processing Unit (GPU), Memory, PCI, and/or AGP devices. In other words, making your computer run faster without having to spend the money on upgrades.
What is the risk of overclocking?
- In most situations, Overclocking will void the warranty of your equipment.
- The lifespan of the CPU and other devices will be shortened.
- You could potentially destroy your CPU, memory, motherboard, and other expensive items.
- Room temperature is likely to increase.
- Your system could become unstable
- You might become an OC Addict
What is the Front Side Bus (or FSB)?
FSB is also known as the Memory BUS or System BUS and connects the CPU with the main memory and is used to connect to other components within the computer. The FSB can range from speeds of 66MHz, 100MHz, 133MHz, 266 MHz, 400MHz, 533MHz and beyond.
What is system bus?
The bus that connects the CPU to main memory on the motherboard. I/O buses, which connect the CPU with the systems other components, branch off of the system bus.
What is backside bus?
A microprocessor bus that connects the CPU to a Level 2 cache. Typically, a backside bus runs at a faster clock speed than the frontside bus that connects the CPU to main memory. For example, the Pentium Pro microprocessor actually consists of two chips -- one contains the CPU and the primary cache, and the second contains the secondary cache. A backside bus connects the two chips at the same clock rate as the CPU itself (at least 200 MHz). In contrast, the frontside bus runs at only a fraction of the CPU clock speed.
What is a bus?

Usually a big long yellow thing that.... err... A Bus is a collection of wires through which data is transmitted from one part of a computer to another. You can think of a bus as a road or highway on which data travels within a computer. When used in reference to personal computers, the term bus usually refers to internal bus. This is a bus that connects all the internal computer components to the CPU and main memory. There's also an expansion bus that enables expansion boards to access the CPU and memory.

All buses consist of two parts -- an address bus and a data bus. The data bus transfers actual data whereas the address bus transfers information about where the data should go.

The size of a bus, known as its width, is important because it determines how much data can be transmitted at one time. For example, a 16-bit bus can transmit 16 bits of data, a 32-bit bus can transmit 32 bits of data, and a 64-bit bus can transmit 64 bits of data. - If your still thinking about the highway analogy, a larger road can allow more cars to travel than a smaller road.
How does FSB determine CPU speed?
CPU speed is determined by the following formula:
FSB x Multiplier = CPU Speed
For example, if you had a FSB setting of 133MHz and a 10x Multiplier, your CPU speed would be 1330MHz or 1.33GHz.

Processor
How is a processor overclocked?
The most common (and simplest) way to Overclock a processor is by simply raising the Front Side Bus (FSB) from within the BIOS. The process is the same with both AMD and Intel CPUs. Simply enter the BIOS on system startup, find the setting for the FSB and increase that value. - If you are unsure where this option is in the BIOS, take a look at your motherboard manual, as it should have that information for you.
My CPU says that it has a 266, 333, 400, 533, or 800 BUS speed, how is that?

Newer CPUs now "double pump" or even "quad pump" the FSB, this is similar to how DDR memory works. For example, the 333Mhz BUS on a processor take a 166Mhz FSB and "double pumps" it.
166Mhz FSB x 2 = 333Mhz

Similar to that, the 533MHz BUS processors are "quad pumped".
133MHz FSB x 4 = 533MHz
What's up with the AMD XP names?

AMD processors are not named according to the speed at which the processor runs, instead they are name according to how that particular processor matches against an Intel P4 processor. For example, the AMD XP 1800+ runs at 1.53Ghz, but its performance is equivalent to a Intel P4 1.8Ghz.

Here's a few quotes from AMD:
- "Over the past 20 years end users have come to view higher performance � as being synonymous with higher frequency. AMD believes that what people really care about, however, is not the frequency of their processor, but the performance it delivers from their applications. While processor frequency contributes to overall CPU performance, it is not the only factor."
- "To the end-user, the ultimate benefit of processor performance is how fast their applications run. Performance to them, simply put, is the amount of time it takes to perform a given task. With that in mind, the processor that performs a given task in the least amount of time has the highest performance. Increased performance implies reduced execution time. Historically, this has been measured through a variety of benchmarks. When comparing the performance of processors that execute the same instruction set, such as the x86 instruction set in PCs, performance is defined as: The work done by the processor in each clock cycle (represented as instructions per clock - IPC) times the number of clock cycles (represented by frequency)�"
- "PC buyers usually rely on the clock speed (megahertz) of a PC's microprocessor to determine their purchasing decision. Because the industry lacks a simple, universally accepted way to judge performance, users have become conditioned to substituting clock speed to gauge how fast their applications will run."
Ok, now can you translate the AMD XP names to speeds for me?
1500 - 1.33 GHz
1600 - 1.40 GHz
1700 - 1.47 GHz
1800 - 1.53 GHz
1900 - 1.60 GHz
2000 - 1.67 GHz
2100 - 1.73 GHz
2200 - 1.80 GHz
2400 - 1.93 GHz
2500 - 1.833 GHz
2600 - 2.133 GHz
2700 - 2.17 GHz
2800 - 2.083 GHz
3000 - 2.167 GHz
3200 - 2.20 GHz
Can the multiplier be changed?
This answer is two fold:
Intel Processors: Older Intel Processors (P2? and earlier) the multiplier could be changed in the same way that the FSB can be. Allowing you to OC by increasing one or both values. This caused a problem, as many resellers started Overclocking the CPUs and selling slower CPUs as if they were faster. Because of this Intel locked the multiplier inside the CPU and it cannot be changed.
AMD Processors: AMD CPUs come from the factory with the Multiplier locked, however unlike Intel CPUs, an AMD can be unlocked. This was done by AMD for those people like us, who want to Overclock.
How is the multiplier unlocked on an AMD?
AMD Duron and Thunderbird CPUs can be unlocked via a method that has been titled, "The Pencil Trick." Mainly because, all it requires is a standard pencil. You can find the OverClockersClub guide on how to do the "Pencil Trick" here.
AMD Athlon XP/MP Processors are a bit more complicated when it comes to "unlocking." However, the good folks at HighspeedPC have developed a kit that can be purchased to make unlocking the Athlon XP/MP CPUs much easier. The kit can be found here.
Can the CPU be overclocked without going into the BIOS? -or-
The BIOS has no FSB setting, can the CPU still be overclocked?

In most situations, the CPU can still be Overclocked. There are several programs available that allow you to OC without having to enter the BIOS. Two of the most common are CPUFSB and CPUCool These programs may not work on all motherboards, and this guide does not go into detail of how to use them. Some motherboard manufacturers also include overclocking tools, Giga-Byte for example bundles EasyTune with most of it's motherboards.
How can a system be stabilized after overclocking it?
If the system becomes unstable after increasing the FSB and/or Multiplier, there are two options:
1. Lower the FSB/Multiplier slightly till it becomes stable
2. Increase the Core Voltage (aka vCore) of the CPU
Increasing the vCore of a CPU may help stabilize the system by providing the CPU with an extra boost of current. This increase to the vCore has one nasty side affect: increased heat. The increase of heat is explained as Joule�s Law, which I�m not going to cover.

Cooling
How does cooling play into overclocking?
Like all Integrated Chips (ICs) and electronic devices, the CPU will perform better and last longer when it stays cool. When you Overclock a CPU it creates more heat than it would under normal conditions. A cool CPU is a happy CPU. This also applies to other devices in your computer: Video card, RAM, sound card, and other devices.
What is a safe temperature for a CPU?
AMD and Intel both have maximum temperature ratings for their CPUs listed around 80C. If your CPU gets this hot, you�ve got some serious problems. Most people try and keep the CPU temperature below 40C at idle and below 55C at load.
What is the best heat sink available?

As technology improves, companies are always coming out with a new heat sink or Fan that has the edge over the competition. Some of the most commonly used heat sinks among Overclockers included those made by Thermaltake, Swiftech, and Thermalright. Check out the Overclockers Club review section for reviews on various heat sinks to see what is right for you.
How can temperature be lowered more? - "Super cooling"
If standard air cooling isn�t getting the job done, or has become too loud for you. There are a few more options that can help cool a hot CPU. Those these methods tend to be a bit more expensive than a regular heatsink/fan.
- Water cooling
Peltier/TEC cooling
Vapor Cooling
Liquid Nitrogen Cooling

The methods listed above are beyond the scope of this document, and may be covered in future guides/articles.

In addition to the "Super Cooling" methods listed above, a few things can be done to help lower the temp of your system a few degrees.
The use of rounded cables, or cable ties to allow air to move easier through the case
Additional or larger case fans to bring in cooler air, and exhaust the hot air from your case
Removing the side panels of the case
Using an Aluminum case instead of a thick steal case
Lowering the room temperature will also help
What is thermal compound? -or-
Why is thermal compound used?
Due to the machining process used in making heat sinks, just about every heat sink will have a rough surface. To the human eye it may look flat or even feel smooth, but there are microscopic groves in the surface. These groves will trap air between the heat sink and the CPU, and cause a poor transfer of heat.

Thermal compounds such as Artic Silver and Nanotherm are used to fill these groves and help transfer the heat from the CPU to the heat sink.
Is thermal compound required?
While, some people have run AMD and Intel processors without any thermal compound at all, it is not recommended. It can cause you temperatures to be extremely high, and it may even void your warranty.

Memory
What are the different types of memory?
DDR RAM - (Double Data Rate) pretty much the only thing used anymore. Runs @ FSBx2
SD RAM - (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) Old school, still used in some servers and older computers. Not used on newer systems.

Dinosaur "Dance Floor" Found in Arizona

At least four types of Jurassic dinosaurs left more than a thousand footprints and tail-drag marks at a remote site in northern Arizona, according to a new study. About 190 million years ago, during the Jurassic period, the area was likely an oasis surrounded by a vast desert, researchers said.

"All these footprints at a watering hole might tell us something about the social life of the dinosaurs," said Marjorie Chan of the University of Utah. Chan wonders which species might have mingled at this "dinosaur dance floor." She co-authored the study with University of Utah graduate student Winston Seiler, who found the site in 2006.

(Related: "First Dinosaur Tracks Found on Arabian Peninsula" [May 20, 2008].)

But the research has received mixed reactions from area paleontologists, with some doubting the tracks' authenticity. Their work appears this month in the journal Palaios.

Crossing Dino Paths

Chan noted that the prints appear in what was once very wet, soft sand, which allowed for deep impressions. "You can see the mounds of the sand going around their toes," she said. Dinosaur footprints are named according to their shape and can't be linked conclusively to an exact species and genus without other evidence, such as bones. But some of a creature's habits can be guessed from its tracks.

The site's 16-inch (40-centimeter), three-toed Eubrontes tracks, for instance, are believed to come from an upright-walking meat-eater that was smaller than Tyrannosaurus rex, the scientists say. Smaller tracks could be smaller species or younger dinosaurs. "Sometimes it's really hard to tell," Chan said. Other large prints may have come from unknown sauropods, Chan said, referring to the long-necked herbivores that eventually evolved into Earth's most gigantic creatures.

(Test your dino IQ.)

Not Convinced

Alan Titus, a paleontologist at Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in nearby Kanab, Utah, has not seen the site in person but is not convinced that these are really dinosaur tracks. "I've observed thousands of [Eubrontes] tracks in early Jurassic rocks of the Colorado Plateau and have never seen one that looked like the one in the news release," he said by 0email, noting that he would need to see the site before drawing a firm conclusion. Andrew Milner, a paleontologist at St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm in Utah, also felt the photos were not enough evidence.

"What they're showing here look nothing like Eubrontes in my opinion," Milner said. "If they do turn out to be tracks, it's really an interesting site—showing what they're doing behavior-wise would be interesting," he said.

"To be honest, I really want to go have a look." Utah's state paleontologist Jim Kirkland also has not been to the site personally, but he has seen many of the researchers' photos and agrees with some of their conclusions. "Some of the [imprints] are definitely tracks," he said. "I'm a little more leery about [the] tail-drags." Tail-drag marks are rare and can be difficult to verify. Kirkland said he's not convinced any of the prints are from sauropods, because "there's no fossil record in North America of sauropods that old." But, he added, "it's not impossible."

(Related: "Dinosaur Tracks Shed Light on Sauropod Evolution" [May 29, 2002].)

In any case, he said, the find could reveal a wealth of new information about dinosaur behavior. "Someone needs to take this to the next level," Kirkland said. "It's an exciting site."

Alternative Explanations

The study rejects several alternative explanations for the unusual collection of pothole-like impressions in the rock. "An initial interpretation of the impressions might be that they are potholes, the product of modern erosion," Seiler said. "However," Seiler said, "upon close inspection many of the impressions are ringed by mounds of displaced sand that had to be formed when the sand was soft, before it was turned to rock."

The research team also "started seeing repeating patterns … footprints and, in some cases, three clear toes," he said. Such evidence for dinosaur tracks outweighs evidence for the other possibilities, he said.

No Bones?

Chan noted one lingering mystery: "Why aren't there any dinosaurs bones? We still don't really know the answer to that." Bones were not found at other track sites in the region, the scientists say, so it might just be that the environmental conditions weren't conducive to preserving them. Until further research is done, what really happened at the dance floor is anyone's guess.

Rebecca Carroll
for National Geographic News

October 21, 2008
Review by beta