Price: $ 898
Specs:
Windows 8, lO.l" HD LED-backlit multi-touch display (l 366 x 768p), Intel
Atom Z2760,2GB RAM, 64GB, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
4.0, Micro-H Micro-USB, H 0.3" x W 6.6", H 10.2"
Acer is so sure of its Iconia W510 hybrid
that it is selling the tablet without the keyboard dock too. This means the
tablet is independent of the dock, which is not necessary to charge the device.
The clamshell design of the device is very
solid, though the plastic white hinge sticks out of the aluminum finish body.
The tablet side is heavier and will fall back if you don't get the angle
correct. But the display can rotate 180 degrees into a presentation mode where
the keyboard is facing down.
Frankly, we didn't particularly like the
keyboard which is well spaced out, but keeps repeating letters that you type.
The space key is also stubborn and registers a stroke only when you hit its
middle. But the keyboard nestles an extra battery that doubles the amount of
juice you have on the tablet as well as the only full USB port.
On the other hand, the tablet is very good
and comes with most connectivity options that you need. A micro-USB, micro-HDMI
and micro-SD card reader Dot different sides of the tablet. The IPS panel is
crystal clear and the touchscreen good. For a change, this is one screen that
is visible even in sunlight. The sound quality is good too.
Like other hybrids, this one too is made
for regular computing and high-end tasks. The Atom processor won't give you any
trouble with content consumption and can also do some types of content
creation. But don't stretch the device by asking it to do tough tasks. Acer has
added a host of proprietary apps. We really liked the Acer Crystal Eye that
lets you take full control of the front and rear cameras.
Simmtronics SIMM X720 - For Price Watchers
Price: $ 85
Spec:
Android v4.0;7inchcapac-s display; 1 GHz processor; 512MB iM; no rear camera;
Wi-Fi; 2800 mAh battery
Into the already cluttered seven-inch
Android tablet market, Simmtronics has launched its XPad X720. The tablet has a
black bezel and white textured rear. Like most of the other companies in the
budget device space, this one too does not have; branding on the front. The
branding at the back, however, indicates that the device is best used in
portrait mode. But with the power key on the bottom panel, one is forced to use
the tablet in the landscape mode.
At first, we felt that the touch on the
capacitive display wasn't smooth and the display not that bright. But then we
should not crib much as this is a sub-? 5,000 tablet. With connectivity options
restricted to Wi-Fi, browsing on the onboard browser was about average. We
could play non-HD videos on this tablet. For all these basic chores, the tablet
packs a 1 GHz processor paired with a 512MB RAM.
Thanks to the Android IceCream Sandwich
operating system there is a dedicated multi-tasking key at the bottom using
which we could use to switch or close apps. One big drag is the fact that this
device does not have a rear camera and you will have to do with just the 0.3MP
front camera. Browsing the web and watching videos over Wi-Fi, the 2800 mAh
battery lasted close to four hours.
Bag it or junk it?
Average quality for the price
PANASONIC AE 8000 - Projected Dimensions
Price: $
4,619
Specs: 2400
lumens lamp; 500000:1 contrast ration; 3D enabled; 3HDMI, composite in, video
in, 2 triggers
Targeted at the niche crowd, the
Panasonic's AE projectors try to bring home a cinema experience. While the AE
7000 came with an impressive 2000 lumens lamp, the latest AE 8000 stands out
for its 3D projection quality. This full-size projector comes with a 2400
lumens lamp, which is red rich for more brightness. The projector also offers a
contrast ratio of 500000:1.
There is a 480 Hz full HD panel that also
aids in projecting bright and clear content. The colors look natural, even when
you are projecting in 3D, the USP of this unit.
Usually, the brightness decreases
drastically while viewing 3D content, but here the videos were bright and
impressive. There is a 3D viewing monitor onboard to help increase and decrease
the depth of the 3D content. Considering there isn't much 3D content available
in the market, Panasonic has 2D to 3D upscale feature that works really well.
But the 3D viewing monitor does not work in the 2D to 3D mode. Unlike LG,
Panasonic continues to stick to active shutter 3D glasses (not accompanied with
the projector]. For connecting 3D glasses, an infrared transmitter with a 10
meter range is placed on front of the projector. The company also has an
accessory that can increase this range.
The neat design of the AE 8000 is dominated
by the big lamp in front. Three HDMI ports are placed at the back along with
composite in, S-Video In, etc. There are two triggers with 12V added at the
back that can be used for connecting the lights and other essentials for
setting up the projector. The AE 8000 has a back-lit remote control that
illuminates when used. We spotted a Viera Link key that can be used to operate
all connected Panasonic products (post 2010] with a single remote. There is
also a ‘memory load' key that can store six different lens and zoom settings.
The company claims a lamp life of around
4,000 hours on low-power mode where the brightness is reduced by 30 per cent.
In regular mode the lamp life is up to 3,000 hours. The lamp can be replaced
for $462
Bag it or junk it?
A must-have if you are splurging on a home
theatre.
