KWorld - DVB-T USB 395U TV Stick

So mature has the market become for digital television that even Freeview boxes for sitting under a TV leave change from £30. The economies of scale in the market, of course, further extend to the PC sector, where we found the DVB-T USB 395U TV Stick from Kworld for well under its already low RRP. The cost now of upgrading your PC to the digital TV revolution is negligible.

There's a degree of 'you get what you pay for' when you come to the box. Sparsely packaged, there's a CD, a sheet of paper and the USB device itself, along with a small aerial to attach to the USB device. The aerial, to be fair, is so small that it looks like it'd struggle to pick up a signal from across the room, yet alone a transmitter, and so it proved in practice.

But we're getting a little ahead of ourselves. The first thing you have to do is attach the device to a spare USB port (although not an unpowered hub, given the required power draw), and then cancel the automatic installation of drivers. At this point you run the supplied CD and install the Kworld supplied software (HyperMediaCenter). It doesn't take long at all.

Annoyingly, as part of the installation on our Vista testbed machine, the software insisted it wanted to restart our PC. Really: aren't we through with this yet? We can install sophisticated video editing software onto our machine and use it the second it's installed. Why do we have to restart to use a USB TV device?
That irritation done with, we started the software application again and set it off scanning channels. What a waste of time that proved to be. So pitiful is the supplied antenna that predictably the software didn't pick up a sausage. Granted, said antenna did have a magnetic base which made it easy to attach to the side of our PC case, but it's best purpose in life is decoration. And it ain't that pretty.

Your best bet, therefore, is to defy the point of it all to an extent and attach a more powerful aerial. The software proves a bit happier then and actually manages to find something. It also allows you to schedule recordings and suchlike, and it turns out to be a limited but useful piece of software. As you might expect given the low asking price, there's no remote control. You'll have to do all the necessary work through a keyboard.

There's an element of false economy about Kworld's 395U, sadly, which at best can be regarded as a basic tool for the job. It's passable, but in this case a no-frills price very much gets you a no-frills product. The need for a reasonably large aerial may be a deal-breaker, too.

KWorld - DVB-T USB 395U TV Stick features - Verdict

A low-cost solution that gives at best competent service. The software's not too bad, but the hardware lets the side down.

Billion - BiPAC 6200NXL

As advanced silicon fabrication crams more and more features into networking chips, the capabilities of even basic home broadband routers are now quite remarkable. Billion's BiPAC 6200NXL is one of the cheapest desktop models we've seen with dual-WAN (Ethernet and 3G mobile broadband) capability, among a host of other handy features.

A 3G dongle can be used either as your primary broadband connection to share across a wired or wireless network, or as a backup that automatically kicks in if the primary Ethernet-based broadband connection (there's no integrated ADSL modem) goes down for any reason.

Its port configuration is unusual, with just three LAN ports and a WAN port (all 10/100Mbps), but two USB ports. These latter can take a 3G dongle, one or two USB storage devices, a printer or a webcam. Storage can be shared using the built-in Samba and/or FTP servers. There's a list of compatible devices on Billion's website.

The case feels lightweight and plasticky, but it runs impressively cool. The bank of green/orange status lights at the front is welcome, as are the mechanical power toggle switch and WPS button at the back. Although this is an 802.11n router, it's a 2.4GHz-only model with two antennas, which doesn't really affect the range (we achieved 20-30m through several walls in our domestic setup) but means that it's not quite as immune to interference as dual-band (2.4/5GHz) or 3-antenna models in congested wireless environments.

There's a decent printed Quick Start Install Guide, and together with the built-in Quick Start wizard it's easy to get connected (although the dual-WAN mode option is not offered here) and set up the Wi-Fi basics, but after that you're pretty much on your own, which is a shame as this device has a lot of potential. A neat touch is the inclusion of a 3G software utility to monitor data usage and signal quality, although it's a pity that it doesn't let you terminate the 3G connection.

There's a good feature list for the price, but sadly it's let down somewhat by the help and documentation. There's no contextual help in the web-based GUI; as long as you stick to the limited ‘Basic' menu it's fine, but open up the Advanced options and things soon get jargon-filled and confusing.

The 142-page PDF manual is the same: it's fine for basic configuration but assumes too much prior knowledge for advanced options such as the server functions. Annoying quirks like the need to press ‘Save Config' after pressing ‘Apply' when you change settings only add to the frustration; firmware fixes could easily address some of these issues.

All told, though, it handles the basics well. The 3G dongle setup is painless as long as you know the operator's 3G access point name (APN). Failover worked fine when the wired connection was lost, but auto-failback when the wired WAN reconnects is not yet implemented. Load-balancing is similarly promised for a future firmware release. We experienced no hangs or other glitches, although we did identify a couple of bugs in the early firmware version in our review unit that have now been fixed.

Billion - BiPAC 6200NXL features - Verdict

If you need a 3G-capable 802.11n router, this is one of the lower-priced models around. Although it has some handy features and works well, the user interface and documentation need work to make some of the advanced features more accessible to less technical users. The three LAN ports and lack of Gigabit Ethernet remind you that it's definitely an entry-level choice.

HIS - Radeon HD5830 iCooler V Turbo 1GB

The latest and possibly the last member of AMD's all conquering 45nm 5xxxx DX11 series of graphics cores is the Radeon HD 5830. "Why yet another 5 series card?" we hear you ask. Well, quite simply it fills in the gap both in price and performance between the HD5770 and the HD5850 cards that have been out for some time.

Based on the LE version of the Cypress core, the HD5830 may still have the 2.15 billion transistors of its Cypress siblings, but it has a fair chunk of the stream processors disabled, so while the HD5870 has 1,600 stream processors, the HD5830 has to make do with a mere 1,120. Also cut down are the number of render output units. This, together with the reduced stream processers, means that the pixel fillrate is very much reduced.

To try to make up a little for this, the core clock runs at 800MHz while the 1GB of GDDR5 runs at 1,000MHz (4,000MHz effective) through a 256-bit bus, giving a memory bandwidth of 128GB/s.

HIS currently has four HD5830 cards in the its line-up: all have HIS's iCooler V non-reference cooler, two have stock cores while the other two are from the Turbo range. The difference between the two cards in each range is that one has a fancy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare sticker on the cooler and a coupon for the game in the box. If this is the version you want, make sure you see GDG at the end of the product code.

The Turbo version of the HD5830, as with all the Turbo family, comes with factory overclocked core and memory engines. The tweak to the core adds another 40MHz to the stock speed (840MHz) while the memory clock gains another 100MHz so it runs at 1,100MHz (4,400MHz effective).

Performance-wise the factory overclocking pushes the HD5830 Turbo nearer to the HD5850. Benched using Crysis Warhead at a 1,680 by 1,050 pixel resolution, it gave an average frame rate of 34fps compared to the standard HD5830's 29 (the HD5770's score at this resolution is 25fps while the HD5850 is 45fps). Upping the resolution to 1,920 by 1,200 produces a frame rate of 27fps for the HD5830 Turbo compared to 23fps for the standard HD5830, 21fps for the HD5770 and 32fps for the HD5850.

To power the card you'll need two 6-pin PCI-E power connectors, but don't worry if your power supply doesn't have any spare as there are two 4-pin Molex to 6-pin PCI-E adaptors bundled in the box, along with a CrossFire bridge and a DVI to VGA adaptor.

HIS - Radeon HD5830 iCooler V Turbo 1GB features - Verdict

Overclocked out of the box, HIS's HD5830 iCooler V Turbo is a nice card and the overclocking does add something to its performance, however there's a snag and that's the pricing, something that affects most HD5830s. In terms of performance it sits closer to the HD5850 than the HD5770, but is only around £30 cheaper than its more powerful sibling so it's really a no-brainer to squeeze the budget and buy the HD5850. However, should the price drop to around the £170-£180 mark then it becomes a different proposition altogether.

Lite-On - iHAS324

DVD drives have been at rock-bottom prices for a fair while now, with models available for as little as £15. The new iHAS324 from Lite-On isn't quite that cheap, but at just £20 it's still very much in the bargain basement category.

The iHAS324 is an internal SATA drive, with Lite-On providing a SATA cable in the package. A copy of Nero 8 Essentials is also included, which provides a decent range of burning tools.

In an attempt to differentiate itself from the countless other drives on the market, Lite-On includes a feature called SmartErase, which aims to ensure confidential discs can be rendered useless. The SmartErase application is found within Nero 8 and is very straightforward: simply choose which drive you want to use and then select either Quick Erase or Full Erase.

The Quick Erase feature is next-to-useless though, since it only erases data from a small part of the disc. Although this means the disc will no longer work in an optical drive, anyone with data recovery software will most likely be able to recover the majority of the data.

Select Full Erase, however, and the whole disc is wiped. As you might expect, though, this does take some time. When we ran it on a DVD+R disc we were left waiting over six minutes for it to complete.
As if being slow wasn't bad enough, the appeal of SmartErase is given another swift blow in that it won't work on rewritable media, which includes DVD+RW, DVD-RW and DVD-RAM.

Tools that improve security are always welcome, but we do have to question exactly how many people will actually put SmartErase to use. And with many paper-shredders able to tear optical media into shreds in just a couple of seconds, Lite-On's got an uphill struggle in persuading people to use SmartErase.

As far as disc burning goes, the iHAS324 is more impressive. Lite-On quotes write speeds at 24x for DVD±R, 8x for dual layer DVD±R and 12x for DVD-RAM. Access times for DVDs and CDs are 160ms and 140ms respectively.

When we ran the iHAS324 through our burning tests it produced some good results. Burning 4.37GB of data to a DVD+R disc took the drive just four minutes and three seconds to complete. During the burn process it peaked at 24x, averaging out at 16x for the duration. Access times were also very close to Lite-On's quoted figure, at 165ms.

Lite-On - iHAS324 features - Verdict

The SmartErase feature of the iHAS324 is slow and gimmicky, and with most paper shredders capable of destroying optical media we're left wondering exactly who Lite-On thinks will use this feature. But with a low price of just £20, Lite-On certainly isn't charging a premium for SmartErase and the iHAS324 performed well in our disc burning tests. Overall, it's a decent DVD burner; just ignore the SmartErase side of things.

Imation 2GB Pivot Plus USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Highlights for Imation 2GB Pivot Plus USB 2.0 Flash Drive

• Storage Capacity:2 GB

General Information

Manufacturer

: Imation Corp.

Manufacturer Part Number

: 26761

Product Line

: Pivot

Product Name

: 2GB Pivot Plus USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Manufacturer Website Address

: www.imation.com

Product Type

: Flash DriveTechnical Information

Storage Capacity

: 2 GBInterfaces/Ports

Interfaces

: 1 x 4-pin Type A Male USB 2.0 - USB Reliability
Power Description
Environmental Conditions
Physical Characteristics

Form Factor

: External Hot-swappable PortableMiscellaneous
Warranty
Software

SanDisk SDCZ2-1024-A10 1 GB Cruzer Mini USB 2.0 Flash Drive (Retail Package)

SanDisk Cruzer Mini is the fastest and easiest way to store and move your documents, pictures, presentations and music files between home, work, school -- or any other place you need to go.
Nothing moves you-or your data-like SanDisk Cruzer Mini.
Say hello to Cruzer Mini from SanDisk. Cruzer Mini is an ultra-small, ultra-thin USB 2.0 Hi-Speed flash drive that will have you and your data on the move in no time at all. In fact, the portable Cruzer Mini is the fastest and easiest way to store and move your documents, pictures, presentations and music files between home, work, school-or any other place you need to go.
Have data, will travel.
SanDisk Cruzer Mini is a new kind of personal data storage device for people who are going places (and need to take their important computer files with them). Unlike floppy disks and other removable media, Cruzer Mini offers higher storage capacities, faster data transfer rates, and better file security-all in a device no bigger than a pack of gum.
Small, sleek and very sexy.
SanDisk Cruzer Mini is built for travel. Its thin and sleek design lets you take it anywhere with ease. Just slip it into a pocket or purse and off you go. Two additional color caps and a removable neckstrap let you personalize Cruzer Mini to fit your style. With Cruzer Mini, transporting your documents, pictures, presentations and music files has never been easier. Or looked better.
CruzerLock protects your personal data.
Worried about data security? Don’t be. Cruzer Mini comes with an advanced file security application called CruzerLock that encrypts your individual files, keeping them safe and secure from prying eyes. Simply choose a personal password, select the file that you want to encrypt and CruzerLock does the rest!
Easily fits any lifestyle...including yours.
Cruzer Mini’s ultra-thin profile takes up very little space. So if you already have a cable plugged into a stacked USB port, Cruzer Mini can plug in easily next to it. Most other USB Flash Drives obstruct the port next to it, making it extremely difficult to use two USB devices at once. The ultra-small, ultra-thin Cruzer Mini won’t cramp your style-no matter how tight things may get.
"Plug and play" means no hassles.
No drivers needed-just plug and go! Cruzer Mini plugs into any USB 2.0 port and is backwards compatible with USB 1.1. It’s truly "plug and play" with both PCs and the Macintosh due to USB Mass Storage Class (MSC) compliance when used with Windows ME, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Mac OS 9.2.1+ and Mac OS 10.1.2+.
It's your move. So make the most of it.
Whether for business, pleasure or both, Cruzer Mini makes it easy to take your documents, pictures, presentations, music and any other personal files along with you anywhere, anytime. For example, need to revise your PowerPoint presentations at home? No problem. Simply load them up and leave your laptop at the office. It’s that easy!

SanDisk Cruzer Titanium

The SanDisk Cruzer Titanium is stylish enough for business, yet rugged enough for outdoor adventures. This is the reviewer’s choice, but it does cost a little more than some of our other featured USB flash drives.

Product Features:

The SanDisk Cruzer has a Liquidmetal titanium coated casing that not only looks sleek with its steel matte finish and clean lines, but is also crush resistant up to 2000 pounds. With the slide of a button, the USB connector slides into the protective housing—this means no cap to lose or break.

The Cruzer comes with a lanyard so you can store it on your person at all times for safekeeping.

Included Software:

Like the Gold Award product, this thumb drive comes with the U3 software that allows you to take your profiles, favorites and even your wallpaper to any computer for a familiar computing experience. And when you’re done, the Cruzer doesn’t leave a trace—everything is stored on the drive.

The Cruzer Titanium also comes with Skype software, which allows you to place phone calls from any computer with an Internet connection
Though not all of the U3 applications come preinstalled, you can access downloads for the applications on the SanDisk website. At the time of this review, we counted 23 available U3 applications, many of which are free.

Support/Warranty:

Sandisk provides a lot of online self-help information and you can contact customer service by phone or email. We talked to customer service and they were cordial and provided helpful information.

Summary:

The SanDisk Cruzer Titanium is our favorite USB flash drive for quality and features. If you’re willing to spend a little more money and could use 4 GB of storage, the 4 GB SanDisk Cruzer Titanium is a great buy. If this doesn’t look like the USB flash drive for you than check out some of our other top rated USB Flash Drives.