HP HDX16-1370US 16-Inch Entertainment Laptop Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm a big fan of the HP HDX series. It sits at the top of their Pavilion line and is one of the best built notebooks sold in the retail channel. It's aimed solidly at consumers looking for a high end entertainment laptop. Because the material quality is well above average it's not necessarily the best value: you can get these specs for less money, just not with the same build quality. This is a good choice for someone looking for a notebook that can handle more than just web browsing. The biggest drawback of this HDX model is a slightly under powered battery and a little more weight (though again, much of that lies with the superior frame and shell).
Let's go over the specs:
CPU: The Core 2 P7550 runs two separate cores at 2.26GHz and has 3MB of on chip cache. The Core2 line is the best notebook CPU out there today and and this model this is about in the middle of the mobile Core2 line in terms of performance. At 35W it sits in the same thermal envelope as much slower chips (such as the Mobile Pentium line). Having two cores means you can run your full internet security suite and not have your computer freeze up for events like a virus scan.
MEMORY: 4GB of DDR2 RAM is plenty and the 1066Mhz memory speed is plenty fast.
HDD: The 500GB HDD has plenty of storage, even if you like to do video encoding. The 5400RPM speed isn't the fastest but it is more reliable that 7200RPM drives.
DISPLAY: The 16in (1366×768) display looks great. Like a lot of glossy screens it's a little more susceptible to glare, but in the home it looks fantastic. There's also a HDX line with an 18inch screen.
GRAPHICS: The Nvidia GeForce GT 130M w/ 1GB of DDR2 used in this notebook is a large step up from the standard Intel 4500 graphics. It is basically a Nvidia 9600 on a newer (55nm) manufacturing process. With this notebook you can play newer 3D games at reasonable resolutions. This is still a step down from being a true "gaming notebook" but if you want to be able to do occasional 3D gaming on it you can (I should note that online 3D games like World of Warcraft run fine on this chip). If 3D gaming is important to you I would suggest looking for a notebook with something more powerful (either the Nvidia GTS and GTX line or the ATI 4800 or 4600 series). It is more than enough to handle your home entertainment needs. The only downside is it uses more power and will drain your batter faster than the standard 4500.
AUDIO: The Altec Lansing with Dolby Home Theater and Sub-Woofer is part of what sets this notebook apart. The sound is fantastic. It is rich and deep and has none of the tininess usually associated with notebook sound.
DVD/CD DRIVE: Uses the "HP Super-Multi Drive" which means it can read and write pretty much any CD or DVD format out there except for Blu Ray. The lack of Blu Ray is the main ding on the "entertainment" specs of notebook. You can get Blu Ray on other HDX-16 models or by custom ordering it from HP.
BATTERY: The 6 cell battery falls a little short. With this size screen and the upgraded graphics chip you really want a 12 cell battery (which some HDX models have). If you expect to be plugged in most of the time you probably don't care. If you expect to travel with this the 1.5-2 hour typical performance (3 max) will disappoint you.
WEIGHT: Coming in a 7.06 lbs this is slightly heavier than the next step down from HP (a DV6 comes in around 6.5 lbs) but that's mostly improved framing and heavier grade plastics. This notebook is solid.
WIRELESS: The usually Intel 5100 A/G/N supports the most common standards ("A" and "G") along with the new "N" standard. You should have no trouble connecting to wireless networks.
PORTS: This notebook has all the usual ports (USB2, Ethernet, VGA, headphones, microphones, eSATA) and a HDMI port. Thanks to the included remote you could watch DVDs on your TV (if it supports HDMI) in relative comfort. I'm not sure why you would want to foor DVDs, but if you want to use Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Video On Demand, it makes it easy to download and watch movies on your TV.
So if you want a solid notebook with good video and sound this is well worth taking a lot at, especially if you want to download movies. If you are looking for a gaming notebook keep looking. If you want Blu Ray keep looking. If you just want to surf the web you don't need a computer this powerful unless you want really good sound. If battery life is important look for a model with a 12 cell battery (or custom order one from HP).

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LUXURIOUS STYLE:Expanding on the elegance of the current line, the new HDX series is defined by fluid, modern lines and metalized finishes with surprising innovations inside and out. High-gloss HP Imprint finish in titanium and chrome now encases all surfaces visible during normal use for greater durability, and a sleeve is included for extra protection. The HDX series Fluid Imprint features a flowing linear pattern that enhances the reflective qualities of the metallic finish. The streamlined look is enhanced with a color-matched keyboard and touchpad. And touch media controls light up and become visible only when the system is powered on further enhancing the clean appearance. HPs mobile products have won coveted International Red Dot, iF and CES Innovation design awards andbeen recognized by other leading design institutions.EXTREME ENTERTAINMENT: Extreme entertainment is at your fingertips with everything you need to enjoy content in the highest-quality formats - and create your own show. Introducing HP MediaSmart for access to DVDs, videos, photos, music, Internet TV and radio at the touch of a button.What's in the box: HDX-1370us laptop, 90W AC Adapter, 6-Cell Lithium-Ion battery, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 with 60 days complimentary live update, Microsoft Works and Adobe Acrobat Reader

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JVC Everio GZ-HD30 80 GB AVCHD High Definition Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this camcorder a few months back and have used it extensively to shoot under various lighting scenarios.
I was so flabbergasted to see how good the camera performed even indoors (where lighting is limited to just a few lit bulbs inside a room). Those of you who are aware of the relationship between video noise (graininess) and low light will find that this camera does an excellent good job indoors.
All my friends who have visited us have been equally shocked seeing such high quality video from a non-professional video recorder. Trust me.... sometimes the videos look even better than some selected shots in movies I've seen on BluRay discs. Having said that please don't expect this tiny camcorder to surpass those gigantic professional video recording equipment -- but the fact it comes so close is commendable.
The color saturation is maybe very slightly higher than neutral, but I frankly find that to be an advantage since the videos really stand out.
The video quality looks outstanding when I play the videos on my 42" HDTV through the HDMI out.
A reviewer complained about the 19 minutes per file limit. I never found that to be a practical issue since you can join multiple files to have a continuous video of what ever length you desire using the PC software provided with the camcorder.
Battery life is average (about 70-80 minutes on a fully charged battery) and so I got myself a backup non-JVC battery for a fraction of the cost of the original JVC battery and it actually performs better than the JVC battery (about 90 minutes).
Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this purchase. Although initially I was a bit hesitant spending $600 on a camcorder, but I soon realized that this is money very well spent.

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JVC designed the GZ-HD30 to meet the needs of a broad segment of people who shoot video, including family users. More compact than the GZ-HD40, it offers all of the performance and nearly all of the features of that model, except it has a slim 80GB internal hard disk for a maximum 33 hours of Full HD recording, and does not come with a docking station. Includes: Everio GZHD30 Camcorder, AC Adapter, Battery Pack, Shoulder Strap, AV Cable, USB Cable, Component Video Cable, Remote Control, Software CD-Rom

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Samsung Digimax S1050 10.1MP Digital Camera with 5x Advance Shake Reduction Optical Zoom (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I did a great deal of previewing of the current crop of digital cameras before this Samsung S1050.
Some of the selling points for me, were the high MP, the higher quality movie encoding, and the large LCD screen.
There is a good level of detail in the photos, the colors are true to life, and the portability of the camera is decent. The skies were less grainy than with some digital cameras, a common problem.
The movie mode could be better, but it is better than the average for a digital camera.
The large LCD screen is great for shots of smaller moving subjects.
Please note: You will need high powered NIHM rechargable batteries for this camera, as with most higher end cameras and especially as the S1050 takes only two batteries. I recommend buying four high powered NIHMs, and a recharger that can handle four batteries at a time, that way you'll always be ready for a shot.

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SAMSUNG S1050 BLACK DIGITAL CAMERA

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JVC Everio GZMC500 5MP 3CCD 4GB Microdrive Camcorder w/10x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)Had this digicam for about 24 hours and here are my first impressions:
I own a Panasonic SV AV100 which saves mpeg2 video and mpg4 to a SD card. It did it well and I was pleased with it, but the low resolution digital camera function was surpassed by some wireless phones. I wanted a device that took high resolution photos and digital mpeg2 video saved to a memory card that could be immediately loaded to PC and burnt to DVD. The JVC GZ-MC100 and MC200 took 2mp pictures and saved mpeg2 video to a 4 gb microdrive or SD card, but had poor low light performance - worse than my little Panasonic. So, it was with some anxiety that I shelled out $1595 for the GZ-MC500.
I bought it hoping that the new 3CCD video chip would not only give better color video and good 5mp jpeg pictures, but that JVC would have taken the time to improve low light performance... and they did.
In bright light the automatic videocam performance of the camera is really good. Indoors without any light on and bright sunlight coming in the window, the video remained sharp with pretty good color saturation and no graininess to my eye when played back on TV directly from camera. The MC500 seems to really be working much, much better in low light conditions than the MC100/200s before it. At night with room lights on, I took more videos and although there was some dimming of the picture, the video was still bright and not grainy. Color still looked good though there was some loss of color saturation in those conditions. In a completely dark room, forget about it since there is no infrared function. But I did not care about that. Much better in low light than my Panasonic SV-AV100 overall. Microphone picked up voices/sounds in stereo very well.
The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate for me.
The camera bottom heats up while recording to microdrive and I never recorded more than 5 minutes of video but the heat build up was quite noticeable. Unlike my Panasonic, there is no remote control which is quite disappointing in a $1600 digicam that is begging for immediate video playback to TV directly from camera.
In summary, I am both relieved at the camera's good low light performance and very happy with the camera's mpeg2 video quality and very happy with the 5mp jpeg picture performance. I would give this camera 4.5 stars out of five taking off 1/2 point for lack of remote control.
Go to this site and use translate option on google toolbar to read text or just download the duck video and jpegs to see this camera's quality. Rename video .mod extension to .mpg to view in WMP. Remember this is 720 x 480 mpg2
(...)

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Still images or video--capture either 60 minutes of DVD-quality MPEG-2 movies or thousands of super-high resolution UXGA-size JPEG pictures with the Everio--the first camera to use Microdrive technology. The included 4GB Microdrive card, though it is the same size as Compact Flash card, has such unprecedented capacity because it is has its own built-in HDD (hard disk drive).

Until now, tapeless formats have been severely limited in the length and quality of video capacity, but the Everio's Microdrive lets you shoot up to 60 minutes of high quality MPEG-2 video--and even more in lower resolution modes. A selection of recording modes lets you choose more quality or more shooting time. The highest quality Ultra mode records at a constant bit rate of 8.88 Mbps with AC 3 audio--comparable to the DVD data rate (average 4 Mbps video/9.8 Mbps maximum). Essentially what you get is DVD quality, with the same video and audio format as a movie DVD. And the number of still photos that will fit on the Microdrive card is nothing less than awe-inspiring: More than 5,000 of the highest resolution images (1600 x 1200 fine).
Three 1/4.5-inch 1.33 Megapixel CCDs for High-Quality Image Capture The image sensor in the Everio GZMC500 features three 1/4.5-inch CCDs offer the high-resolution capabilities needed for high quality digital videography and photography. The Everio features a total of 5 Megapixel-Class Digital Still recording up to 2560 x 1920 pixels (JPEG), and High-Quality MPEG-2 Video Recording (up to 720 x 480/60i in ULTRA mode) with Dolby Digital Audio (MOD file). And the Megabrid Engine applies separate, optimized processing to moving and still images, for videos with a high signal-to-noise ratio, and high-resolution still pictures.
Versatile, Lossless Data Store what you've shot on the provided Microdrive card, optional CompactFlash or SD Memory Cards. size as a CompactFlash card, but with many Gigabytes of capacity. You can eject the Microdrive card, just as you would a CompactFlash or SD Memory Card, and load data into your PC via optional card adapter. Or simply connect the camera via its USB2.0 interface for quick downloading to a PC. All transfer is digital-to-digital, so you won't lose any quality in the process.
DVD Creation and Sharing
Multi-Format Support In addition to making it easy to create DVDs, the supplied software converts to a variety of file formats for distribution via the Web or by e-mail. Supported formats include DV-AVI, Windows-AVI, MPEG-1 and MPEG-2, as well as Windows Media Video and RealVideo that can be streamed over the Internet.

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JVC Everio GZMG37 30GB HDD Digital Media Camcorder with 32x Optical Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)At $700 this camera was not a good buy - for $500-$550, not too bad.
The biggest complaint people seem to have is with the video quality - and while I agree it's not as good as a top quality miniDV or some of the more expensive HD models JVC also produce, it's not nearly as bad as they're making out (or they've somehow managed to buy a whole bunch of bad cameras).
I've recorded movies both indoors and out - neither have been particularly poor, and I would place it's top quality setting somewhere around that of a VHS tape. I got none of the artifacts or corruption people have complained about, the quality is a bit fuzzy, but on the whole perfectly acceptable for creating family movies or sending scaled down mpgs via email.
The format it records in is NOT proprietory as some people claim. It records in mpeg 2 format, but unfortunately due to the proprietory software that comes with the camera all the clips have a .mod instead of a .mpg file extension.
No drivers or software are needed - just attach to your PC, then access the HD as if it were a USB thumbdrive. After you've copied the data, you can rename the files to .mpg if you wish, this will make them instantly available to any movie playback program, including Media Player.
Editing in Windows Movie Maker however is not possible, as this softare isn't able to handle mpgs it doesn't create with it's own proprietory codec - but all versions of Premier or other decent video editing programs work fine.
If you want top quality, don't buy an HD video camera - stick with miniDV or spend big bucks on High Definition. If you don't mind a little bit of fuzziness around the edges, then any of these cheaper HD cameras work great.
I've head that the more expensive versions of this camera have higher resolution recording as well as better handling of colour/light/etc. If this is true then you might want to ask a sales rep to do a recording and transfer it to a large screen PC to see if that works better for you. Any salesman worth his salt will do this test for you, after all $500+ is a lot of money, and if they truly want the sale they'll show you how good or bad the camera really is.

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The days of digital tape are over. Don't worry about reloading mini DVD discs either, because the age of hard drive recording is finally here. The JVC GZ-MG37 Everio camcorder features a 30 GB hard drive for recording seven hours of DVD movie-quality video--all in an unbelievably small and lightweight package. Now when you're on the go, all you have to bring is the camera--leave the tapes and recordable DVDs at home. The GZ-MG37 records in high-quality MPEG-2, the same format used for DVD movies. And because the camcorder employs a tapeless format, you can easily delete unwanted scenes, or instantaneously skip to the exact segment of footage you want to view--no fast forwarding or rewinding. The hard drive also makes it easy to edit your footage right on the camera. Just click on a thumbnail image displayed on the GZ-MG37's 2.7-inch widescreen color LCD monitor and watch your memories come to life. Choose the footage you want and quickly and easily rearrange it the way you want it. And, unlike tapes, there's no need to worry about accidentally recording over your most prized moments. Technology for keeping your footage safe and sound is also built into the GZ-MG37. To protect the hard disk drive from shocks and vibrations, Everio camcorders have a protective floating suspension system that effectively dampens vibrations through advanced polymer shock absorbers. There's also a motion sensor that automatically senses sudden acceleration and turns off the power to protect the hard disk drive even if the camera is dropped. With a 30 GB hard drive, you can record to your heart's content. The camera features four different recording modes that let you choose the best balance between quality and recording time. In the highest quality mode, "Ultra," you'll get seven hours of recording time at full DVD image quality (720 x 480/60i) and with full Dolby Digital audio. Meanwhile, choosing the lowest quality mode, called Eco mode, gives you a whopping 37 hours of recording time

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JVC Everio GZHD7 3CCD 60GB Hard Disk Drive High Definition Camcorder with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are more than a casual video user or if you have bought a video camera more than twice in the last 10 years I would say that you probably need a high end HD camera to satisfy you. For me, someone who has only owned 1 other video camera in the last 10 years I find this camera to be amazing. I do not shoot professionally and if i did there are many great HD solutions in the 3-6 grand range. Since this is not my business and I do not have money to burn this was the camera that satisfied all my needs. Those needs were: no tapes, large hard drive, HD quality or something far, far better than my old mini DV camera. I also needed to be able to archive the files on my mac which is a dual 800mhz G4 and possibly edit on the mac in imovie. This camera does all of that, and quite easily I might add.
I had no problems installing the codec that came with the camera for quicktime. Once I opened a clip in quicktime it did not play properly, however once I imported it into imovie it worked fine. I edited simple edits, added new audio and was satisfied for what I need. After all, all I will be doing with this is shooting the wife and kids.
JVC recommends A 1.25 Gigahertz G4 or higher, so do not complain about the camera not working smoothly on your mac unless you meet those requirements. They are stated on the GZHD7 box. I suggest the newest mac with 2 gigs of ram at least. In my experience, more RAM makes all the difference in the world. Eventually I plan to get a new mac to be able to handle the footage.
I have a 1080i sony plasma TV. The picture looked great. There was some banding of subtle gradients I shot. It was acceptable to me. Also the banding was not apparent on my mac in imovie. I think because my TV is already 2 years old it is not up to the same standards as the GZHD7 camera and my mac. Bottom line is the camera was producing better images on my mac than on my TV. Now all this is nonsense because I will be using this to mostly shoot video of my family and friends for recreational use. Compared to what my dad shot of us when we were kids and then the sandy grainy video we used in the 90s this camera is AMAZING. The quality is good enough for me and I would also add that any film student on a zero budget could easily get by with this. Like I said earlier, if you have the means and require perfect HD video, spend the few extra grand and go for the gold.

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JVC has developed the first consumer full High-Definition 3-CCD camcorder capable of shooting and recording full HD images (1920 x 1080i). The Everio GZ-HD7 camcorder also features a Fujinon lens used in broadcast video cameras, now being used in a consumer camcorder for the first time. The 3-CCD system offers superior color reproduction as well.

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Sony MZ-RH1 Hi-MD Walkman MiniDisc/MP3 Digital Music Player Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a violist and I needed the Sony MZ-RH1 Hi-MD Walkman MiniDisc/MP3 Digital Music Player to record myself to make audition CDs for orchestra auditions and festivals. The recording quality is excellent and the MD player is easy to use. Transferring to the computer was very simple. I used the Sony ECMMS907 Digital Recording Microphone and it worked great. For all you orchestra musicians out there looking for a recording device to make your audition tapes, this is it right here. I highly recommend this!!

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The MZ-RH1 builds on the success of Sony's earlier MiniDisc players but adds several new features, taking digital audio playback to the next level in the process. The sleek and slim audio player plays digital files downloaded in Linear PCM, ATRAC, ATRAC3, ATRAC3plus, and MP3 formats, but also serves as a pocket-sized MiniDisc recording studio for live concerts and other occasions. The dual functions make the MZ-RH1 extremely versatile, with unsurpassed CD-quality sound and an unlimited storage capacity (each 1 GB MiniDisc holds up to 45 hours of music). In addition, longtime MiniDisc users can now revive their classic MiniDisc audio libraries and upload them to PC using the MZ-RH1--a much anticipated feature among audiophiles.
Sony has improved the MiniDisc recording experience with several sonic enhancements, including an adjustable recording mode that adapts to the type of event that's being recorded. So whether you're capturing a live concert, a basement jam session, or even a business meeting, you'll enjoy crystal-clear sound that's custom fit to the occasion. The device also boasts several listening modes that match specific genres and acoustic atmospheres, such as "club," "jazz," and "pop." The MZ-RH1 even lets you adjust the mic sensitivity and recording level on the fly, helping you adapt to changing sound levels or audience noise during a concert.
Recognizing that professionals often record in dark environments, Sony added an easy-to-use button array and a backlit display. And thanks to Sony's Hi-MD next-generation formatting technology--which records in the uncompressed Linear PCM format to ensure the same sound quality as the original source--you'll enjoy studio-quality sound time and again. The playback quality is consistently excellent as well, with such features as a dynamic normalizer, which automatically equalizes the volume of each recorded track to a listenable level, and a high-capacity coupling condenser that accurately reproduces the bass.
Additional features include a high-speed USB 2.0 interface, Mac compatibility, an HD digital amplifier, complete PC storage for such files as text documents or JPEG photos, and a switchable headphone/line-level output. The MZ-RH1 comes with a rechargeable battery with a battery life of 19 hours, a set of high-powered headphones, and a remote control for easy listening and playback. And at 3.45 by 0.68 by 3.45 inches (W x H x D), the MZ-RH1 takes up only a tiny amount of space. Finally, the MZ-RH1 is backed by a one-year warranty on parts and a 90-day warranty on labor.
What's in the Box MZ-RH1 MiniDisc/MP3 player, USB cable, digital optical cable, AC adapter, remote control, carrying pouch, software CD-ROM, user's manual.

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