Tech Junky

With Microsoft finalizing Windows 7, the new OS is set to come out in October. The successor to Windows Vista pack in plethora of features.

The guys over at Engadget have given the final build a detailed review.

Wrap Up:

Where Vista felt like a sprawling mess, Windows 7 has patched up the holes and feels like a tight, unified mechanism. It’s hardly full of surprises, but that’s usually a good thing when it comes to operating systems. If you’ve never been a Windows person, there’s hardly anything here that will change your mind about that. However, most human beings on this planet have some sort of interaction with Windows on a regular basis, whether by choice or necessity, and Windows 7 is great news for those millions of souls.

Instead of switching up the formula, Windows 7 is really an extension and a refinement of the true tenets of Windows (that we just made up): broad hardware compatibility, coatings of usability over deep functionality, and a “everything for everybody” approach to feature sets and SKUs. With such broad aims, and such a diverse userbase, it’s no wonder that there are plenty of spots where the OS still falls short, but taken as a whole it’s clear that Microsoft has taken a strong step forward with Windows 7. The world will know on October 22.

Read the full review ..

Take a look at Microsoft’s upcoming Zune HD‘s interface. The device boasts a gorgeous HD display and the interface looks slick too.

This year’s E3 brought out great stuff from both Microsoft and Sony. Both console makers unveiled their technology
regarding advanced motion sensing. While Microsoft showcased Project Natal, Sony demoed it’s PlayStation Motion Controller.

Microsoft’s Project Natal:

Project Natal is the code name for a “controller-free gaming and entertainment experience” by Microsoft for the
Xbox 360 video game platform.. Based on an add-on peripheral for the Xbox 360 console, Project Natal enables users
to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller, in a natural user interface
using gestures, spoken commands, or presented objects and images.

Sony’s Motion Controller:

The PlayStation motion controller is a motion-sensing game controller in development for the PlayStation 3 video
game console by Sony Computer Entertainment. Consisting of a handheld wand, the controller uses the PlayStation Eye webcam to track the wand’s position, and inertial sensors to detect its motion.

Both these technologies  are awesome and are set to change the gaming landscape.

Personally I found Project Natal to be ‘WOW’. I mean it’s just great to have something like this. But when you think a little more about this, you’ll have some doubts like how long would you be able to move while playing a game? How will you run in a game with a large area? Will this work well without buttons? Or will  background objects have any effect on the motion sensing? Well if MS is able to perfect the system, then there is nothing stopping it from being a revolution.

When you see Sony’s PlayStation Controller, you find it to be pretty amazing. With 1:1 precision, the motion sensing will be awesome. While Natal has the Wow factor, I feel that Sony’s product is more practical and will be of better use while gaming. I really loved the part when you see the guy in the video hitting arrows with the controller.

Currently both the products are in development and are not ready yet. We’ll be able to experience both the technologies next year. Be it Natal or the Motion Controller, both will bring amazing experience for XBox 360 and PS3 owners.

Which one do you feel is better? Let us know in your comments.

With its new line of Studio laptops, Dell aims to reach a mainstream audience with a power to price ratio that falls somewhere between the Inspiron and XPS lines while catering to its more multimedia-minded users. Does it succeed? Read on.

Design:

I’ve always liked the smooth satin finish of the Inspiron and XPS notebooks and was glad to see this made a return with the Studio line. The screen attaches to the base of the notebook with a hefty hinge on either end that gives it a sturdy, won’t-snap-off-in-your-lap kind of feel, and the screen is surprisingly hefty for being so thin. The keyboard is smooth, quiet, and comfortably laid out, though it looks a bit dated in comparison to the rest of the notebook. Function before form, I suppose. An optional backlit keyboard compliments the glowing, touch-sensitive media controls below the screen. These controls are very responsive, lighting up and performing with just the right amount of pressure. The touch pads on both models are comfortable, responsive, and quiet, equaling the functionality of the keyboard but fitting in a bit more effectively with the modern look of the rest of the laptop. A wedge-shaped base subtly tilts the keyboard toward the user while leaving plenty of room for input/output ports on the sides. Add to all of this an excess of factory-customized lid design options for affordable personalization and the Studio 15 and 17 notebooks are relatively attractive, albeit quite heavy (8.4 pounds for the 17 and just over 6 for the 15) alternatives for the multimedia crowd.

Performance:

Both the 15” and 17” versions are created with heavy multimedia use in mind, and perform admirably toward that end. For a mid-range notebook, the Studio line offers plenty of power for the price. Those looking to use their notebook as a portable entertainment system will not be disappointed.

The least-upgraded versions of the Studio 15 and 17 models mysteriously both cost $649 on Dell’s website, though a dumbed-down processor in the Studio 17 (Intel Pentium Dual Core T4200 rather than the 15” version’s T6400) accounts for the equal cost. Of course, with the magic of convenient online customization it’s possible to shove up to a T9550 into both models if desired (raising costs accordingly). 3GB of RAM at 800MHz and a 250GB internal hard drive at 5400RPM increase the multimedia-oriented functionality of the Studio line, with customization offering still more power and memory.

The beautifully large 16:10, 1440×900 screen of the 17” model obviously trumps the 15” version in both size and resolution, though the 15” is not too shabby itself – either model is well-suited for movies, games, and HD video editing. Media playback is smooth and vivid, and the speakers are just loud enough to be practical. While the screen is reflective, it isn’t distractingly so. Viewing angles are acceptable as well.

The addition of HDMI outputs and optional Blu-ray disc drives further enhances the media-mindedness of the Studio line and gives owners the option of using their notebook as a home theater system. Discreet graphics make for a relatively formidable gaming machine, though hardcore gamers could find more power elsewhere. Still, this kind of performance is not often available in a mid-level consumer notebook, making this a much-appreciated option for multimedia connoisseurs.

The new “Dell Dock” allows for OSX-like functionality, placing a bar of frequently used shortcuts at the top of the screen. Additional icons can be dragged-and-dropped onto this bar, creating a useful time-saver that may help to make Vista more user-friendly for those struggling to adjust.

A 2-megapixel webcam and a useful assortment of ports round out the features of these media-friendly notebooks. Battery life is an impressive 3 ½ hours and the 9T215 AC adapter is sleek and thin, reducing the hassle involved with using the notebook while plugged in. The adapter also runs more coolly than most, a welcome feature considering how these tend to become with use.

Verdict:

The Dell Studio 15 and 17 notebooks are affordable, accessible mid-level multimedia powerhouses that will satisfy anyone looking for a portable entertainment system. This amount of power is not often available at such an affordable price, and the design is both functional and attractive. Adequate performance and a useful set of upgradeable features and accessories round out this customizable, media-focused line of notebooks.

About The Author

Jack Edmund is a blogger for the laptop battery and accessories retailer PriorityElectronics.com. His interests include kayaking, bird watching, and technology.

Sometimes, while working on your computer you may experience system slowdown problems. With some research, you may come to the conclusion that the problem is originating from high CPU usage. Many PC users have reported CPU usage nearing one hundred percent at times. This could be alarming for a common user and the initial reaction could be shutting down some of the running applications to see if the problem goes away. Often, the problem is not because of actual system overload due to running applications, but due to some other computer problem that is behind this issue.

There are numerous reasons why your system could be reporting such alarmingly high usage. This article will help you understand high CPU problems and offer an easy solution to resolve this problem.

Exe processes consuming large amounts of CPU resources

Some exe processes, such as csrss.exe, ekrn.exe, and wdfmgr.exe are known to consume 99% or 100% of CPU resources on a computer. This generally happens when the files of a program are outdated or corrupt. You can correct this problem by updating the program that is consuming the huge amounts of system resources. To fix wdfmgr.exe error and other exe process, you can update Microsoft products using the Windows update or Automatic Update features. You can update third-party products, such as ESET NOD32 Antivirus suite, by enabling the software’s automatic update feature or by manually downloading the updates from its Website.

An attack by virus or other malware

You may also experience high CPU usage problems if your program files are infected with malware or if malware processes are running on your system.  This is why it is important for you to protect your computer from malware programs, using robust antivirus and antispyware tools. You should schedule regular system scans to remove any malicious programs present on your computer. Also, remember to update your security tool with the latest virus definitions and updates in order to protect your machine from the latest malware.

Damaged or outdated device drivers

Outdated drivers or damaged driver files may also result in high CPU usage. You may update drivers from the driver manufacturer’s website. Alternately, you may use a reliable driver scanner tool for this purpose. A driver scanner tool automatically updates the drivers when new updates are released by the vendor.

A corrupt or large Windows registry

A large, corrupt and fragmented registry may also lead to high CPU usage. The registry of a new computer is compact and contains only basic information that is required to keep it functional. With continuous usage, a lot of unwanted and redundant information creeps into the registry. To make matters worse, malware programs also deliberately inject malicious entries into the system registry. All of this junk causes the registry to bloat. Also, the information stored in the registry gets fragmented. As a result, it takes more time to obtain and process information that is stored in the registry. To maintain a clean and compact registry, it is important that you use a good registry cleaning tool to scan and remove the malicious and unnecessary information stored in it. An efficient registry cleaning tool also defrags the registry, and helps speed up the data processing time.