Here a roundup of today's reviews and articles, including Acer T232HL - Touch Comes to the Desktop, Inside the Macintosh SE, OCZ Vector 256GB SSD Review, QNAP Launches Turbo NAS Series Featuring XBMC, and Fedora 18 (Spherical Cow) Review



Acer T232HL - Touch Comes to the Desktop @ Anandtech

Windows 8 has brought about its shift in how we use our computers and its focus on having a more unified experience for phones, tablets, laptops, and desktop PCs. As those first two systems are primarily touch-oriented, desktop computers are suddenly seeing a large number of touch displays appearing. In an environment that is used to a keyboard and mouse for input, how well is touch going to fit into that setting? The availability of touchscreens has rapidly increased with the launch of Windows 8 last year. Where touchscreens were rare or expensive before, now they are much easier to find with the availability of a mainstream, touch-oriented operating system. The Acer T232HL is one of the first touchscreen displays to hit our review section, so join us as we put it through its paces.

Read more: Acer T232HL - Touch Comes to the Desktop @ Anandtech

FUNC MS-3 Gaming Mouse Review @ KitGuru

Today we are looking at the new gaming mouse from FUNC the MS3. This mouse targets the high end enthusiast sector and is priced accordingly, around £60 inc vat. The MS-3 uses an Avago Laser sensor which the company claim delivers stable results with a high maximum tracking speed, up to 5,670dpi. The MS-3 is a large wired, 10 button mouse with an instant aim button and 3 profile onboard memory system. Should this be on your shortlist in 2013?

Read more: FUNC MS-3 Gaming Mouse Review @ KitGuru

PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk.III 850W Power Supply Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Sometimes manufacturers rush out product after product when they release a new range. PC Power and Cooling (part of OCZ) cant be accused of that though because in November 2011 we took a look at their new Silencer MK.3 600w PSU, which was then followed by a 1200w model in August 2012. Now more than a year after the first Mk.3 OCZ have refreshed the range with new 750w and 850w models and we have one of the latter on our test bench today.

Read more: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk.III 850W Power Supply Review @ HardwareHeaven.com

Inside the Macintosh SE @ Hardware Secrets

Following the release of the original Macintosh (a.k.a. Macintosh 128K) in 1984, the Macintosh 512K in 1985, and the Macintosh Plus in 1986, in 1987, Apple released the Macintosh SE. Several versions of this computer were released. Let's discuss this computer in detail.

Read more: Inside the Macintosh SE @ Hardware Secrets

OCZ Vector 256GB SSD Review @ HCW

Being on the cutting edge of the consumer SSD sector was always a risky proposition for OCZ. It seemed to work well for them through the early years with the Indilinx Barefoot powered Vertex drive, and they were always the first out with high performing drives based on SandForce controllers.

However being the first and most popular drives with new technology means that if there is a problem, it is going to very noticeable. That seems to be what happened with the Vertex 3 series drives – we really enjoyed the performance they offered, but looking at reviews at various retailers reveals that quite a few people had problems with them. These problems have been addressed with firmware updates, but OCZ finally started moving away from SandForce after buying Indilinx in 2011.

Read more: OCZ Vector 256GB SSD Review @ HCW

SilverStone Precision Series PS07 Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Small form factor systems are getting increasingly popular. With the amount of power in and features in new micro ATX and smaller motherboards means many people are opting for them over the traditional ATX motherboards. They not only cost less but allow you to build a system that is not a pain in the you know what to take to LAN parties. With the popularity of these motherboards there is a large demand for cases made specifically them. Today we are taking a look at one such case, the Precision Series PS07 from SilverStone. This case features a sleek tower design, removable motherboard tray, dual 120mm silent fans, USB 3.0 support and of course the quality you expect from SilverStone. Looking for a case for that Micro ATX motherboard? This may be the case for you!

Read more: SilverStone Precision Series PS07 Case Review @ ThinkComputers.org

Aegis Bio 3.0 - Encrypted USB 3.0 Drive with Biometric Fingerprint Access @ Warp2Search

Apricorn, a leader in data security products for business, today announced the Aegis Bio 3.0, an innovative 'software free' biometric USB 3.0 drive that safeguards data with secure fingerprint access and military grade 265-bit AES-XTS hardware encryption. The Aegis Bio is cross platform compatible with USB 3.0 performance. Its compact durable design with integrated USB cable is perfect for the office or taking sensitive data on the road. Available with either a hard drive or SSD the Aegis Bio's 1TB model is priced at $249.

Designed for those that wish to break away from passwords and PINs, and utilize their unique fingerprint for secure access to their data, the Aegis Bio combines powerful hardware based authentication with real-time 256-bit AES-XTS data encryption. The result, a formidable hardware based security solution that requires no admin rights to setup or access data and works independently of the host OS, providing an exceptional level of data protection that is ideal for use in a multi-platform corporate environment.

Read more: Aegis Bio 3.0 - Encrypted USB 3.0 Drive with Biometric Fingerprint Access @ Warp2Search

Seasonic Gold Series X-750 Power Supply Review @ PC Perspective

Seasonic has built a stellar reputation for producing some of the best PC power supplies on the market today. In their relentless pursuit to continuously improve their products, Seasonic has recently upgraded the X-650, X-750 and X-850 units to provide quality performance for PC enthusiasts who seek reliability, tight voltage regulation, and high efficiency. The following list details the specific enhancements and differences between the earlier KM2 models and the new X-650/750/850 KM3 models.

• 12V Line Regulation improved to ±2% instead of ±3%
• S2FC/S3FC Selector Switch allows end user to select fan control mode of choice
• Flat Black DC Cables: easier to install, better airflow, and good appearance
• Increased number of CPU/PCI-E cable options
• New KM3 models use Full Bridge topology versus Half Bridge in KM2 for better reliability and efficiency
• MOSFETs relocated to Daughter Card instead of main PCB for improved efficiency, cooling and safety
• KM3 uses High Current Connectors (9A, 85°C) for added security and reliability

Read more: Seasonic Gold Series X-750 Power Supply Review @ PC Perspective

QNAP Launches Turbo NAS Series Featuring XBMC @ Warp2Search

The TS-x69 Pro and L series are powered by an Intel Atom 2.13 GHz Dual-Core processor with expandable memory up to 3GB. The XBMC Media Center feature allows users to directly connect the NAS through their TV’s HDMI port for direct media playback. Users can now watch their favorite movies, videos, listen to their favorite music, and view their photos directly on their TV. With XBMC, users can also manage their video library, create/manage their own personal music playlists and create their own photo slideshows. “We are very thrilled to bring the exciting, feature loaded XBMC Media Center to QNAP users,” said Ivan Hsu, Marketing Sales Director for QNAP. “XBMC has a very strong, loyal following and their user community is ever growing. The addition of this revolutionary application turns your NAS device into a home multimedia component,” he added.

Read more: QNAP Launches Turbo NAS Series Featuring XBMC @ Warp2Search

Dell XPS 13 (2013) Review @ TechReviewSource.com

Dell has refreshed their XPS 13 Ultrabook with Windows 8, a 1080p display and a solid-state hard drive to speed up boot times. While it does deliver on performance, it falls short on battery life and lacks a touch screen, which is surprising considering the relatively high price.

Read more: Dell XPS 13 (2013) Review @ TechReviewSource.com

Western Digital WD Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache HDD Review @ Madshrimps

The Caviar Black 2TB 7200RPM drive from Western Digital is a speedy HDD, which is offered with no less than 5 years of warranty and can be recommended with ease for storage on high-end gaming machines.

Read more: Western Digital WD Black WD2002FAEX 2TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache HDD Review @ Madshrimps

Personalized 3D Printed PEZ Head Dispensers @ Warp2Search

Hot Pop Factory, a posh Toronto and semi-hipster company that designs and prints 3D printed jewelry, has created a thing of uncommon beauty: a personalized PEZ dispenser!

Read more: Personalized 3D Printed PEZ Head Dispensers @ Warp2Search

Surface goes from amateur to Pro Review @ Computerworld

Microsoft delivers an ultrabook in the sleek guise of a tablet.

Read more: Surface goes from amateur to Pro Review @ Computerworld

ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Motherboard Review @ HardOCP

While ASRock is a well known new comer in the motherboard market, we've not exactly been fans of ASRock products based on past experiences. ASRock's popularity grows and as a result we are taking another look at a motherboard from in the hope of understanding this popularity. Is it just price, or is there more to ASRock's offerings

Read more: ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Motherboard Review @ HardOCP

HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa @ Techradar

AMD is enjoying something of a resurgence in its laptop fortunes lately. The HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa is the second computer we've seen recently that employs the 'other' manufacturer's processor, the other being the Samsung Series 5 NP535U3C-A02UK. The question is, despite these design wins, can AMD hold its own against intel's third generation Core processors that seem to dominate the laptop space? And if it can, why aren't we seeing more of its mobile processors in the wild?The first question isn't so easily answered, simply because Intel doesn't quite have a processor in the same price bracket as the CPU that can be found inside this machine. In fact it is more than a CPU, but we'll come back to that shortly. The point is, the HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa is priced at budget levels, £500 (around US$790/AU$757) at launch, but on the face of it, it hasn't had to cut all of those traditional corners in order to achieve that price.

Read more: HP Envy Sleekbook 6-1126sa @ Techradar

Viewsonic VX2370Smh-LED Review @ Techradar

The budget end of the monitor market is suddenly rife with quality 23- to 24-inch 1080p screens with cheap IPS panels in them. You've got to love the fact that you can pick up a full HD screen running one of the best monitor technologies out there for just over a ton. It certainly makes a huge difference compared to the weak, washed-out 24-inch TN panels we were once grateful to pick up for around £200. We were utterly smitten by the outgoing VX2336s-LED, and have been recommending it in our Rig Builder pages for months - and to our friends and family too.

Read more: Viewsonic VX2370Smh-LED Review @ Techradar

ASUS MX279H 27-Inch Full HD Monitor @ Warp2Search

The screen is based on an AH-IPS panel, this new 27-inch LED-backlight monitor provides 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 250 cd/m2 brightness, 5ms response time and 178/178 degree viewing angles. In addition, it also comes with two built-in 3W stereo speakers and has D-Sub and 2x HDMI connectors. The MX279H is available now for 32,800 Yen (about $360).

Read more: ASUS MX279H 27-Inch Full HD Monitor @ Warp2Search

ADATA XPG SX900 128GB SSD Full Review - Low Cost SandForce @ PC Perspective

With newer and faster SSDs coming to market, we should not forget those capable controllers of yesteryear. There are plenty of folks out there cranking out products based on controllers that were until very recently the king of the hill. Competition is great for the market, and newer product launches have driven down the cost of the older SandForce 2281 SATA 6Gb/sec controller. ADATA makes a product based on this controller, and it's high time we gave it a look.

Read more: ADATA XPG SX900 128GB SSD Full Review - Low Cost SandForce @ PC Perspective

Cooler Master Announces CM Force 500 Case @ Warp2Search

The CM Force 500 is the first of the all new Cooler Master case series: CM Force. These black, classy and affordable cases will be hitting Europe soon and the CM Force 500 will be the first. Even though the price lies at a very decent €39.99 this case offers a lot of the latest features.

Read more: Cooler Master Announces CM Force 500 Case @ Warp2Search

ECS A85F2-A Golden Motherboard @ PureOverclock

With the release of AMD’s Trinity APU, we are starting to see more and more manufacturers releasing this new FM2 Socket series of motherboards. If you are not familiar with AMD’s APU systems, it’s a processor that has an on-die graphics processing unit embedded into the CPU. AMD started its APU line just over a year ago with the Zacate series processors which carried the FM1 Socket. AMD released this as their “Fusion” technology, which is designed to combine the CPU with the raw processing power of on-die graphics at an affordable price-point.

AMD recently took this “Fusion” technology a little further with its recent release of Trinity, and incorporated its new processing architecture of Piledriver to the new FM2 Socket series chips. In fact, today we will be using the AMD Trinity A10-5800k that offers this new architecture, and takes its graphics processing power to the next level with the on-die 7660D graphics.

When it comes to using this new processing power, it’s also important to choose the right motherboard that fits the bill. The APU line of motherboards were designed to be affordable, but also offer high performance standards. Today we are going to be looking at a new motherboard from ECS: the A85F2-A Golden Motherboard. This motherboard will follow its A85X (hudson D4) chipset. ECS doesn’t call this board the “Golden” board for no reason, and, as we take a closer look, you will see why.

Read more: ECS A85F2-A Golden Motherboard @ PureOverclock

Rosewill RPLC-500KIT Powerline Ethernet Adapter Review @ Hi Tech Legion

Similar to the specialized players in football, networking has specialized equipment to handle different tasks. In a modern network environment there will be routers, switches, wireless access points, and possibly repeaters. Home devices wireless “routers” are usually a combination of the various pieces of networking equipment, and sometimes they are unable push the signal to certain areas of a home. Thankfully there are some specialized devices to assist with getting the network easily to the desired location. These devices include wireless repeaters as well as power line adapters that are used in specific environments.

The Rosewill RPLC-500KIT is a set of powerline adapters that offer the potential to transport up to 500 Mbps of data through a home’s existing power infrastructure. The RPLC-500KIT offers an additional way to move network traffic through a home, with support for 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports. The technology works by transmitting the data at a different frequency than the power is generating on the line. One adapter will plug into your wall and will be connected with an Ethernet cable to your internet gateway, whether that is a router or modem. The other adapter is plugged into an outlet wherever you desire network access in the home. The Rosewill RPLC-500 adapters support 128-bit encryption and have LEDs to indicate the quality of power, Ethernet status, and data status.

Read more: Rosewill RPLC-500KIT Powerline Ethernet Adapter Review @ Hi Tech Legion

Fractal Design Arc Mini Review @ Hardware Canucks

Fractal Design’s lineup of cases runs the gamut from the large to miniscule and their Arc Mini strides within the space between these two extremes. Retailing for just $105, this enclosure combines a compact stature with high quality construction and an attention to detail that puts other manufacturers to shame.

For some, a price of over $100 for a case that’s only compatible with Micro ATX (and smaller) motherboards may seem to be a bit steep but the Arc Mini isn’t trying to be a budget-focused case. Instead of cutting corners, it puts emphasis on ease of use, adaptability and maximizing interior space. Now, this may sound like every other enclosure on the market, but Fractal Design goes about things to the beat of a different drummer.

Read more: Fractal Design Arc Mini Review @ Hardware Canucks

Zotac's Z77-ITX WiFi Mini-ITX motherboard review @ The Tech Report

Zotac set the template for the modern Mini-ITX motherboard, and we've taken a look at its flagship Ivy Bridge model. Read on to see if the Z77-ITX WiFi can hang with the competition.

Read more: Zotac's Z77-ITX WiFi Mini-ITX motherboard review @ The Tech Report

Fedora 18 (Spherical Cow) Review @ LinuxBSDos.com

So, it was released a lot later than expected. Big deal! The most important thing is, it was released. That’s the good part. The worst part is, it landed to a chorus of negative reviews.

Where those negative reviews warranted?

Yes, they were. Yes, they were. Fedora 18, aka Spherical Cow, earned its (bad) spots. And it wasn’t unexpected. Long before the stable version hit the download mirrors, I called attention to the reason Fedora 18 is getting so much flak. And unless you just dropped in from Pluto (is it a planet?), you’d know that the reason is Anaconda, the Fedora systems installer. (See Have you seen Anaconda’s new UI?).

Read more: Fedora 18 (Spherical Cow) Review @ LinuxBSDos.com

Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

Choosing a heatsink is normally pretty easy. Search for one with good performance, make sure it is within your price range and simply ensure it will work on your particular system. Of course the assumption here is that you're running a standard ATX motherboard in a modern tower chassis. But, what if you need a custom cooler for a non-traditional system like a HTPC or SFF?? These systems often feature limited space leaving you with the OEM cooler as your only option.

In this review we will be looking at a new compact heatsink from Noctua called the NH-L9i. The NH-L9i is a specially designed heatsink for small system where space is at a premium and noise is a driving factor. As you can imagine a heatsink designed for these conditions will have a few limitations so be sure to check your system specs before you begin.

Read more: Noctua NH-L9i Low Profile Heatsink Review @ Ninjalane

GIGABYTE Releases Extreme Ultrabook U2442 with GeForce GT 650M/GT 730M @ Warp2Search

The U2442 is exceptionally designed with an elegant shuttle streamline design in a sleek form factor between 18.5 - 21mm and weighs in at just 1.59kg/1.69kg. Designed to bring you ultra-performance, it is powered by 3rd generation Intel Core processors and NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M / GT 650M discrete graphics. The U2442 Ultrabook is able to pack a 256GB mSATA SSD and a large 750GB/1TB HDD into its super slim body. The dual-storage system provides the user with speed and massive storage options. Do away with external storage with the Extreme Ultrabook.

Read more: GIGABYTE Releases Extreme Ultrabook U2442 with GeForce GT 650M/GT 730M @ Warp2Search

Blackberry Q10 hands-on review @ The Inquirer

The largest Qwerty keyboard smartphone Blackberry has ever made

Read more: Blackberry Q10 hands-on review @ The Inquirer