DELL's XPS 700-The Revolutionary PC

* Intel® CoreTM 2 Duo Processors
* Intel® CoreTM 2 Extreme

Operating System
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Microsoft Windows XP
Genuine Windows® XP Professional
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition
Genuine Windows® XP Media Center Edition 2005

For more details on Dell systems that run Windows Vista, see www.dell.com/vista.

Chipset
The NVIDIA® nForce 590 SLITM MCP core logic enables two graphics cards to work together rendering a single image. All connected by PCI Express x16 bandwidth to help provide the ultimate visual experience.

* NVIDIA nForce® 590 SLITM Chipset for Intel (D)2

Engineered for Enthusiasts
NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI Intel Edition (D)
NVIDIA SLI technology 2x16
Dual DDR2 Memory Architecture X
NVIDIA SLI-Ready Memory
NVIDIA MediaShield Storage X
NVIDIA Native Gigabit Ethernet* X
NVIDIA FirstPacket technology
NVIDIA DualNet technology
NVIDIA nTune Utility X
NVIDIA SLI Certified Components X
PCI Express X
High Definition Audio X
USB 2.0 X
Memory
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DDR211 is a memory architecture that enables systems to improve performance and reduce power consumption. The amount of RAM you have determines how many programs can be executed at one time and how much data can be readily available to a program. It also determines how quickly your applications perform and how many applications you can easily toggle between at one time. Simply put, the more RAM you have, the more programs you can run smoothly and simultaneously.

* Up to 4GB12 Dual-Channel DDR211 SDRAM (667MHz, 2 or 4 DIMMs)
* Up to 4GB12 Dual-Channel DDR211 SDRAM (533MHz, 2 or 4 DIMMs)

Hard Drives
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The XPS 710 supports up to four hard drives3, each with up to 750GB4 space - a potential capacity of 2TB4 total. And with RAID 1 and RAID 0 options, you can configure your storage to meet your needs, whether it's for storing large quantities of files, backing up system information and files, or improving performance with data striping.

Dell will ship upto 3 hard drives.

* Up to 2TB Multiple Serial ATA Hard Drives (all 4 drives utilized)
* Up to 750GB3 Single Serial ATA Hard Drive

Optical Drives, Floppy Drive, and Media Reader
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* Multiple DVDRW, Combo, DVD-ROM configurations Available
* 16x DVD-Rom Drive; 16x DVD+/-RW drive; 48X Combo
* 3.5" Floppy Drive and 13-in-1 Media Reader Available

Graphics
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* 256MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GS, Single and Dual
* 512MB nVidia GeForce 7900 GTX
* Dual ATI Radeon X1950 XTX 512MB CrossFire
* Single 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 Dual-GPU Graphics Card
* Dual 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 7950 GX2 Dual-GPU Graphics Cards, Quad SLI

Sound Cards
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* Integrated 7.1 Intel High Definition Audio – Standard
* Sound Blaster X-FiTM XtremeMusic (D)2

Externally Accessible
Video: 2 DVI and 1 S-Video
IEEE 1394 - 1 front & 1 back 6-pin serial connector
USB: 10 Ports (2 Front, 6 Back, 2 internal)
Audio: Audio – Front: headphone, microphone; Back: line-in, line-out, microphone, surround, center/LFE; integrated HDA 7.1 ch sound
Network: Integrated Gigabit13 Ethernet
Legacy: 2 PS/2 Ports, 1 Serial Port
1 - S/P DIF out (optical)


Expansion Slots
PCI: 3 Slots
PCIe x1: 1 Slot
PCIe x16 (Graphics): 2 Slots
PCIe x8: 1 Slot

Chassis
Dell XPS 700
750 Watt Power Supply; 1KW Power Supply (Available in Americas only) - SLI, ATX2.0, EPS12V, SSI industry compatibility
Externally available: 2 Optical (5.25), 1 9-in-1 Media Card reader (2 x 5.25) & 1 Floppy (3.5)
Internally available: 4 x 3.5 (HDD)
Memory DIMM slots: 4 available
(H x W x D): 22.5” x 8.6” x 24.25” (with stand); 21.86” x 8.6” x 24.25” (without stand)
7-slot full sized BTX motherboard (12.6" x 10.5")

iRiver S10

IRiver have been a little quiet since CES and we decided to take this opportunity to get hold of a previous release that until recently has been unavailable in the UK, the iRiver S10. Our review sample arrived and we have to admit to being quite surprised by its size, we knew it was small but it was only when we held it next to a 5G iPod that you really see just how tiny it is.

Measuring 42 x 30 x 10.8mm and weighing 17.5 grams the front of the iRiver S10 is dominated by a full colour 1.5" screen which is in turn mounted of a kind of tilting platform which is part of the D Pad navigation system. Build quality is of a very high standard despite being an all plastic construction, when sat in the hand the S10 feels good and of sufficient weight, our only concern is that the screen may scratch if you keep the unit in a pocket with loose change or keys.

iRiver have enabled the S10 to play MP3, WMA, ASF, and OGG Q10 which is a fairly complete range of codecs only missing Apples ACC and Sony's lesser known Atrac. The model on review here is the 2gb flash memory version which should be good for about 35 hours of 128kbit MP3 tracks. There is a smaller 1gb model for those who are really on a budget but the bigger one is much better value. Getting tracks onto the S10 is accomplished via a 3.5mm conversion where the earphone socket doubles up as a data socket rather than use USB, the cable supplied converts USB to 3.5mm and is vital so make sure you don't lose it as it also charges the player.

Transfer of media can be simple us9ing widows drag and drop or you can opt to install the iRiver Plus 3 software which does a nice job of showing what is loaded and letting you send play lists and delete media from the player. It can also rip music for you although weirdly it will not rip MP3 files! only Ogg and WMA and this is a first for us.


Driving the S10 is a joy and almost identical to the U10 and Clix which we have already reviewed. The navigation is logical whereby the right hand edge takes you deeper into the menus and the left hand edge brings you back up again, all of these have labels to help which makes for a remarkably simple interface as we previously saw on the U10. There are contextual menus if you hold the right-hand edge which makes for a speedy way of hacking through both album listings and settings alike. It is not an iPod interface although we'd go as far as to say that after a few days use it is as easy to operate even without a click wheel.

Replay quality was a mixed bag with the standard earphones sound frankly awful with nasty distortion and they are uncomfortable as hell too. However switch to something a bit better (we were swamped with Cresyn units at the time of testing) and the audio quality improves to a level where the distortion is gone and it is more than passable. Ogg tracks sound really tight with an average amount of bass and MP3 sound pretty good too.

We were disappointed that the small 1.5" screen is not used to best effect, in that album art is not supported and the only picture format that can be displayed is bitmap. This leaves the screen looking quite basic and rather ruins any idea of it being a lanyard type player. Quite why iRiver have gone to the trouble and expense of an OLED screen when they then let it show a bitmap background or bouncing equalizer is beyond us.

After a few days playing with the S10 its Achilles heel started to show. When we say started it was apparent from the first day when after being played with by everyone in the office the battery died on the way home. No problem an overnight charge using the special lead and we were all set for the commute and another day of MP3 replay, sadly it didn't make it past mid afternoon petering out at just under 8 hours. This was with the display set to switch off when not in use, heaven knows what the performance would be like if you selected always on!

Despite having a screen there is no video playback on the S10 and for extras you'll have to play with the FM radio and voice recorder, perhaps even the digital clock and equalizer. It sounds like we are being a bit harsh on the iRiver but in the face of competition like the new iPod shuffle it does square up quite well. A unit of this size with a screen and mutlicodec support is worth having.

Our dislikes are really the poor battery life and annoying things like the way that if you use the supplied earphones and wear the player as a pendant the off centre 3.5mm jack makes the S10 hang at a jaunty angle. These minor issues detract from what should be a stylish OLED screen player at iPod shuffle money.

Priced at £99 for this 2gb model and £20 less for the 1gb the iRiver S10 compares well to the £55 1gb iPod shuffle, just be careful that you can live with the 8 hour battery life and use your own earphones.

Apple's Airport Extreme

Introducing the new AirPort Extreme Base Station, the perfect wireless solution for home, school, and business. As it blankets your space with a blazing-fast, secure wireless network, it opens up a world of possibilities for home entertainment, backups, printing, and more.
5x faster

With the new AirPort Extreme Base Station, you and up to 50 of your friends, colleagues, or family members can enjoy a robust wireless network offering up to five times the performance and up to twice the range of networks created with the earlier 802.11g standard.1
Easy as a Mac.

Setting up a network should be as easy as setting up a Mac. And it is — if you’re using a new AirPort Extreme, which features a completely redesigned setup utility. Just take the AirPort Extreme out of the box. Plug it in. Install the software, and in five minutes or less, you’re good to go.
Security icon

Now surf the web, chat, send email, or exchange photos. Print or access a shared hard drive — wirelessly. Set limits for when your kids can access the Internet. Secure your network with a firewall and strong encryption. Even use AirPort Extreme as the perfect companion to the new Apple TV.
Elegantly simple.

Just 6.5 inches square and 1.3 inches tall, the new AirPort Extreme features a simple, elegant design that will fit almost anywhere — your desk, a table, a bookshelf, or any flat surface.
Network icon
Superfast, super-compatible.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station features 802.11n2, the next-generation high-speed wireless technology included with most shipping Mac computers and some newer PCs with compatible cards. And the AirPort Extreme is also Wi-Fi CERTIFIED to work with the 802.11a, 802.11b, and 802.11g wireless standards — which means the systems you’re already using will work seamlessly with the new base station.

Apple's iPhone

Apple unveiled its hugely anticipated bid to take a bite out of the multi-billion dollar global mobile phone market yesterday with a "revolutionary" sleek, one-button device that combines iPod, internet and phone and will cost around £250 pounds ($499). Steve Jobs shows off the new iPhone on stage "Once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, as he demonstrated the iPhone to whoops and cheers from a 4,000-strong audience at Macworld in San Francisco. "Apple is reinventing the phone." Mr Jobs said the slim device was "five years ahead of what's on any other phone" and would change the way people thought about mobile communication devices. The iPhone has all the functions of smart phone as well as the technology of Apple's iPod digital music player. It can screen television shows and films, take photographs with two megapixel camera, browse the internet, send emails and text messages. "It's like having your life in your pocket. It's the ultimate digital device," Mr Jobs said. "After today, I don't think anyone's going to look at these [existing] phones quite the same way." advertisement In keeping with Apple's signature sleek simplicity, the 3.5 inch screen takes up most of the front of the device with just a single button at the bottom that returns users to the home page. Instead of the fiddly "plasticky" keyboards of most smart phones, Mr Jobs said, the iPhone does away with buttons. Instead it is operated by touching the screen with your finger, scrolling up or down through songs on the iPod function, for example, or typing out emails and text messages on the keyboard that appears when needed. Mr Jobs said the iPod contained in the phone was "the best we have ever made". Album covers are displayed on the screen when music is playing, and can be flipped over to read track listings. The screen has "multi-touch" technology so it ignores accidental touches when in a pocket, for example. The device also has a "proximity sensor" so when the user holds the phone to his face, the display and touch function disables and an ambient light sensor to automatically reduce the brightness of the screen. The iPhone will be available in Britain at the end of this year The iPhone has OS X, the operating system used on Apple computers, the web browser Safari, and syncs up with PCs and Macs to transfer data such as calendars, pictures, emails and contacts automatically. "It has desktop class applications and networking," said Mr Jobs, demonstrating as he accessed the front page of the New York Times on the phone. "It is a revolution of the first order to bring the real internet to your phone. It's the internet in your pocket for the first time ever." Apple teamed up with Google and Yahoo for some of the features on the iPhone, including Google maps. It will be launched in the US in June and be available in Europe late in 2007, Mr Jobs said. A 4GB version will cost $499 with a two-year contract, while a 8GB version will cost $599. Mr Jobs showed how it was possible to play music, take calls, send emails and search the web simultaneously by calling Apple's chief designer, British-born Jony Ive, who was in the audience. "It's been two and half years but I can't tell you how thrilled I am to make the first phone call with an iPhone," said the jeans and trainers wearing Mr Jobs. "Anything you'd like to say, Jony?" "It's not too shabby is it?" replied Mr Ive from where he was standing in the audience. Struggling to hide his excitement, Mr Jobs admitted to enduring a sleepless night before the launch, at which he repeatedly described the device as "awesome" and asked the audience, "isn't this cool?" In America, the iPhone will only be available on the Cingular network, a fact criticised by some analysts who said it might put off users. Hadley Stern, publisher and founder of Applematters.com, said while the device itself was "very revolutionary" he said it would be interesting to see how many people actually bought the phone considering it was tied to one network. "It was disappointing it was not an open device so that you could have any carrier or phone number."


iPhone is a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy all your content — including music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows, and movies — on a beautiful 3.5-inch widescreen display. It also lets you sync your content from the iTunes library on your PC or Mac. And then you can access it all with just the touch of a finger.


iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows you to make a call by simply pointing your finger at a name or number in your address book, a favorites list, or a call log. It also automatically syncs all your contacts from a PC, Mac, or Internet service. And it lets you select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want — just like email.


iPhone features a rich HTML email client and Safari — the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device — which automatically syncs bookmarks from your PC or Mac. Safari also includes built-in Google and Yahoo! search. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background over Wi-Fi or EDGE.


iPhone features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. It’s an entirely new interface based on a large multi-touch display and innovative new software that lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flip through photos and email them with a touch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page — all by simply using iPhone’s multi-touch display.

Intelligent Keyboard
iPhone’s full QWERTY soft keyboard lets you easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. And the keyboard is predictive, so it prevents and corrects mistakes, making it easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones.

Samsung Ultra Smart 700- the sole competitor to Apple's iPhone

Samsung has decided to take on the iPhone. The company has announced a new addition to its Ultra line of phones with the Ultra Smart F700. This "revolutionary" mobile phone is set to be showcased at 3GSM World Congress next week.

The F700 features a full touchscreen design but with the added benefit of a slide-out QWERTY keyboard. The 5 megapixel camera is an especially nice addition to this smartphone.


Specifications:



• Network: GSM Triband 900/1800/1900 , UTMS 2100 MHz
• Size: 104mm x 50mm x 16.4mm
• HSDPA, EDGE
• Camera: 5 megapixel with auto focus
• 2.78" 256k colors TFT (240 x 440)
• Bluetooth, USB connectivity
• microSD card slot
• Touchscreen
• QWERTY keyboard
• Media Player
• Email, Java, WAP 2.0, Document Viewer