Selection Christmas 2011: PC configs

Jingle Bells... Christmas approaching, and it must begin to think about the gifts that trôneront at the foot of the FIR. History of honoring our computer and high-tech theme on this occasion, we offer a few selections of products by writing.

After the computers laptops and tablets and smartphones that should be the Kings under the tree, our selection of Christmas 2011 returns with PC best practices by the mittee configs'. More difficult than to the usual, because at the time of the choice of components, we fell on a problem of size: the price of hard drives. Impossible to do without hard disk in the mounting of a config, and if it is possible to work around the problem by going to search for an SSD, it is not within the reach of all the awards. The floods in Thailand have therefore difficult us, causing prices in full blast, as we analyse it recently. But we have the challenge and managed to build towers with small onions, budgets and expectations.

To offer or afford a small desktop configuration for Christmas, we have chosen you this package discreet and good invoice in Fractal Design. Generally, this type of configuration is not intended for leisure activities in high definition, we have capitalized on an Intel processor version Core i5 processor very good performance for applications every day without so far shut out a few small games for children for example.

Of course, this small PC remains scalable and will accommodate a graphics card later if further cravings to games are felt.

          

Although some manufacturers out models of computers that connect to the TV show for home cinema sessions, we looked to mount a silent configuration having a WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) coefficient high enough so that it can be put next to the TV furniture without too much compromise.

The Cooler Master Silencio housing all dressed in black is covered with block foam cone on each wall to absorb the maximum lower noise emitted by the internal components. The graphic part is able to support the Blu - ray 3D with this same optical drive in the selection.

We could choose a remote control to operate the system at the bottom of the sofa, but on reflection, this choice has generated too many stormy discussions to the mittee ' and we rely to Santa on the issue.

          

The price of hard drives disrupted on the choice of components for configurations of this year. Especially for it, because a gamer is generally seeking a quick configuration, with of storage space. Therefore, it must take a disc tray for storage and an SSD for the system. But here, we could not make this choice because the HDD prices are fair theatricality and we had to choose between speed and storage space. We have chosen a sufficient 60 GB solid state disk to install one or two games and the operating system, leaving you free to select a storage disk you may already have also (until prices fall).

To stand out in a LAN party, this package In Win called BUC will spend not unnoticed. To be sure, because it is full of small tricks making it attractive, including hard disk drives "hot-swap" via a trap in the sidebar. For internal components, the 560 GTX graphics card is overclockée and compatible with Nvidia 3D Vision technology.

On this configuration, we know that the choice of the keyboard is something enough display, we therefore have the choice not to add here to keep even one or two gifts in the list and so (to) make a little surprise.

          

Christmas..., winter, snow... This Fractal white Design package is (almost) we unanimously, but nothing prevents to take the black version, if you prefer. The idea was not to seek the config that can be the most expensive, but effective configuration for pleasure.

A very good Core i7 overclokable running at 3.4 GHz mounted on a card mother "professional" in Asrock, all with 8 GB of RAM high performance. We have added to this beautiful gift list, forgiveness, of components, a beautiful card graphic in Sapphire (an AMD Radeon HD 6970 2 GB) with two fans to expire the calories that you he'll spend. Indeed, for the processor, we thought this system of water cooling in Corsair already mounted as a conventional heatpipe but offering of silence and an evacuation of heat directly outside of the box, thus avoiding to disrupt the flow of air created for the graphic part and the rest of the enclosure.

As for the configuration of the gamer, we did not the choice of the keyboard. In the hope that Father Christmas choose for you the best of keyboards/mice of the year (a good TRA and a RAT 9?).

          

This, of course, this are just ideas and a few blows of heart components. All being possible, because that's also the pleasure of the Mount House, customize his machine to best suit its needs and expectations...

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Antivirus: the new Security Essentials available in beta

Microsoft offers to test the latest beta of its Security Essentials free antivirus. In the program, an improved ergonomics and a new engine for the detection of threats.

Since yesterday, the beta of the new version of the Microsoft free antivirus, Security Essentials, is available on the Internet to Connect to the Publisher program members. A program in which all can access to try this beta version, provided to connect to the website with a Windows Live ID, create a public profile by giving its coordinates and use a valid email box. This beta is available for all versions of Windows not covered Security Essentials, namely Windows XP SP3, Vista and 7, all in 32 and 64-bit.

Then, that will make this new version of the system of protection already Unveils beta? A simplified interface and improved performance. Essentially, therefore. A new scan engine has been developed while a system of automatic removal of dangerous files can be set, history to review the decline in the number of actions required by the user.

For the rest, Security Essentials will continue to offer the same benefits that currently, that is to say a well integrated system, light and discreet antivirus. The inverse of the factories to gas which are sometimes similar software suites dedicated to security. Remains to be seen if, indeed, the performance will be improved when the final version is released.

> try the latest beta version of Microsoft Security Essentials

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3D without glasses to the top for this screen 25 "?

LG Announces a 25 inch screen offering 3D without glasses and the 2D conversion to 3D.

A new monitor 3D without glasses like no other will make its appearance the year next in the LG constructor. For an optimal 3D vision, and without glasses, must be that people are to monitor, or almost, the angle of vision for these auto-stéréoscopiques technologies are very limited. With the DX2500, a 25-inch diagonal and certified TUV Rheinland (the first in its category), the restriction is lifted.

How? And well by adding everything simply a camera on the screen to track the position of the persons to modify the used for viewing 3D Parallax barrier. Information sent by the camera are then used for the calculation of the position in real time. LG does not explain how it works when several people are before, but the manufacturer has clearly found a solution to this problem.

To complete the picture, this screen will be able to convert on the fly content 2D to 3D, what make the photos, videos, or games in relief even when they are not provided for. For the moment, step price is announced, but we will not miss it back you all these promises made by LG.

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Windows 8 ARM will be limited to the Metro interface

Microsoft has decided. The ARM of Windows 8 version will only offer a single interface: Metro.

Somewhere, it is in doubts. But despite this, Microsoft had left planné doubt as to the availability of the classic interface of Windows 8 (the traditional Office) on the ARM of the OS version. Indeed, until now, full compatibility was black, and therefore could imagine having access to any Windows 8 on terminals powered by ARM chip. But finally, this will not be the case, Microsoft coming to confirm that these machines will have to satisfy the single interface Metro, the dynamic tile database derived from Windows Phone 7, thought for the touch and shelves.

Thus, the desktop interface, but also Classic applications will not right to call in Windows 8 ARM. Confirmation of the thing comes from Paul Thurott, who announced this in a podcast of Mary-Jo Foley. Therefore, forget all demos made by the editor which showed a Windows 8 identical on all platforms, with a complete system on ARM platforms.

The Metro interface will be the only supported by Windows 8 ARM

However, the Metro interface should remain accessible on the x 86 PC, history to offer the quick toggle between the Office and dynamic tiles, as Microsoft had shown its BUILD Conference. There is therefore not, on Windows 8 ARM, to graphically identical to the traditional version applications, as Steve Ballmer had announced. Developers of applications for Windows 8 ARM will necessarily develop software using the graphical interface of Metro as.

Of course, this announcement causes many reactions on the canvas. Some were satisfied, fearing the base install a system managing the two interfaces is too heavy to handle for a terminal to the tablet. Others, however, believe that it is the system thought of the base will lose interest, this resulting decision inevitably a segregation between the versions. Also, developers are many worry about the lack of clarity on the subject of Microsoft. How should they work their applications in the SDK? Should they necessarily create applications managing the two sets of instructions ARM and x 86? Will they be able to publish their creations for the Metro interface only?

Finally, that will be the manufacturers? Windows 8 shelves based on x 86 (as the model under Intel Core i5) given Developers Conference BUILD processors capable to turn the two interfaces, or shelves ARM limited to Metro? They will have a priori the choice. But what choice will be for interested consumers? At Microsoft to take a position once and for all, and to explain in a clear manner its strategy with Windows 8.

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It's always trainset for the optical fiber...

The number of subscribers to the fiber progresses slowly in France, slower than ADSL. The very high speed is still not be generalized.

On the third quarter the FTTH (Fiber to the Home) has attracted in France that new 19,000 subscribers, bringing the total of households connected directly by a strand of fiber to the very high speed to 175.000. In one year, are in total only 72.000 new homes that have chosen this way of connection. And yet, despite a very slow start, the deployment continues to be, with now some 1.35 million connected housing (150,000 strands of fibre from until the additional subscriber).

Problem, deployments are in priority in dense areas, most profitable a priori, but these are areas where ADSL coverage is very good and where the flows obtained on the pair of copper are sufficient for many Triple-Play subscribers. Result, Internet users are not the tail to pass to the fiber as soon as it is available in their commune, that the conditions of accessibility often impose the access provider (only 450,000 households are eligible for at least two offers). That means steps that - even simplified - are too tedious for some, even when it comes to surfing at 100Mbit. Skimp embedded yet, suppliers are processing not to communicate the benefits of very high speed.

On the hungry (Fiber to the Building), essentially proposed by Numericable, the observation is as usual a bit better with 24,000 new customers and a total of 425.000 connected homes. And a total 600,000 families, in France, currently benefiting are therefore of very high speed, against 420 a year ago. Could be expected that with the efforts made in this area, the progression is more marked. Because the continuous high speed him to recruit more, with 270,000 new homes connected for a total of 21.8 million lines, which 98% by ADSL.

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Hard drives: Western Digital production resumes

Small update on the situation of Western Digital in Thailand, where the manufacturer has been able to reopen one of its production units.

We follow closely the situation in Thailand, where Western Digital - disk hard - a world leader in saw its plants be put out of action produce following terrible floods. Since then, everyone is his commentary on the shortage begins to strike and could continue for a good part of the year 2012. Which has the impact visible to blow up the prices of the drives, as we see there is little in analyzing price at online stores.

In this context, any encouraging news is good to take. In this case, it is Western Digital announced have been able to boost its production on one of its sites where floods receded, at Bang Pa - In. A site where a single plant to resumed, while she was drowned under 2 metres of water since October 15. Rule pumping and a reconstruction of the power supply helped revive manufacturing. In the other buildings at the site, reclamation continues and the machines were transported to be analyzed and repaired.

However, Western Digital is not ready to see the end of the tunnel. Indeed, we also learn that another plant of the same site will not resume before March 2012. A plant paramount as it manufactures the sliders of the disks (the heads of reading and writing), forcing the manufacturer to find heads from other suppliers. Finally, Western Digital evaluates for the first time the harm suffered, and considers that the flood will cost him between 225 and 275 million dollars on the only fourth quarter 2011.

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Panasonic is back for Grandad and Grandma

Funny back than the Japanese Panasonic market motive in France with these phones for visually and hearing evil...

Believe it or not, Panasonic chose to target seniors for his return on the French market of mobile telephony. A market that he had gradually abandoned from 2005, focusing especially on mobile phones for the Japanese market and its specificities. This return is fairly quietly, with two phones, but not of Lumix Phone (model Android which works best in the Japan) to the horizon. Instead, two feature-phones (phones to advanced features, but not smartphones) with large keys and well legible displays.

         

On the left the KX-TU301 and right KX-TU311, two mobile for seniors signed Panasonic

KX-TU311 provides for a system which numbering to the voice that repeats the number composed, and to identify the person who calls the sound emitted by the phone. What facilitate the use of the mobile to the people who have trouble to see, even if this kind of functions also exist on other phones advanced market. KX-TU301 is almost identical, but incorporates a reduction technology of interference for people who use of hearing aids, with a volume whose possible range is wider than the conventional phones. Finally, a big red button on the back of the device allows to call an emergency number pre-registered.

These two phones Panasonic, that suit also probably to visually and evil-hearing, will be launched in France from the month of April, at the respective price of 99 and 79 euros.

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