One thing that has been common on notebook and desktop computers purchased at retail for years is a little sticker on the bottom or on the back of the machine that has the Windows product key. The problem with this sort product key for Microsoft was that having a key in a visible location made it easy for pirates to get a legitimate activation key for Windows. Consumers also had to worry that a torn sticker would fade over time and leave them unable to activate their operating system.
With Windows 8, Microsoft has changed from stickers that have the product key that the user has to type in when installing the operating system to new BIOS embedded product keys. The idea is that by eliminating the sticker, you eliminate one of the easier ways for nefarious users to get a legitimate product key. Eliminating the product key sticker also removes any worry that the sticker might get damaged while at the same time eliminating the long and irritating process of typing in various letters and numbers when installing the operating system.
If the user has to reinstall the operating system on a machine that came with Windows 8, the installation process automatically grabs the software product key from the motherboard BIOS with no input from the user. This means that those familiar Windows product key stickers will no longer appear on the Windows 8 computers. However, a key issue has arrived and it’s unclear exactly how Microsoft will deal with this.
If you purchase a notebook computer running the standard version of Windows 8 and you want to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro, you’ll likely run into an issue. Since Windows is going to look in the motherboard BIOS for a product key, it’s going to reactivate your existing version of Windows rather than the new version according to Ghacks. I’m also curious to know how this feature will operate if you’re building your own computer using components and a retail copy of Windows 8 since your motherboard BIOS won’t have a product key.
I admit that I use a keyboard sleeve with my iPad, and to be honest it makes typing on my tablet a whole lot more productive. Since the iPad Mini was released, it was just a matter of time before a keyboard case for Apple’s smallest tablet would surface.
Like the larger keyboard cases out there for the orginal iPad, Belkin’s portable keyboard folio for the iPad Mini is supposed to let you type more intuitively. It also makes your iPad Mini look like a tiny netbook, albeit with tiny, but well-spaced keys, allowing touch typists to GTD, no matter where they go. It’s also got some media controls and a rechargeable battery. The folio won’t protect your iPad Mini like some of the more rugged cases out there, but it offers a basic level of protection.
The larger of the two big-hitters in the Acer Aspire S7 series Ultrabooks sits here on our desk like a high-powered glass-covered knife, ready to bring the best we’ve seen in touchscreen-toting Windows 8-optimized notebook action to the market. This machine has been delivered to our doorstep in its most powerful configuration, all $1,649 USD of it – complete with a 3rd Generation (Ivy Bridge) Intel Core i7-3517U Processor clocked in at 1.9GHz. The 13.3-inch display here is a beastly Full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution widescreen CineCrystal LED-backlit bit of technology with 10 finger touch and a 16:6 aspect ratio. Now we’ve got to see if this is enough to match up with that price – or if after all is said and done, the price will be the last of your thoughts in this next-generation experience!
Hardware
This machine works with a set of two USB 3.0 ports, one micro-HDMI-out port, a combo headphone/mic jack, and a DC-in jack for your power cord. On the right you’ve got a dual memory card reader for SD and MMC, and also included in the box you’ve got a couple of adapter cords, one made for VGA output, the other allowing you to use an Ethernet cord (USB to RJ-45). The camera up front is a 1.3 megapixel HD webcam able to pick up 1280 x 1024 for video chat, the battery inside is a 4-cell lithium polymer at 4680mAh, and you’ve got 4096MB DDR3 dual-channel memory (4GB onboard memory) as well as Intel HD Graphics 4000 to keep that massively dense display high-powered.
This machine works with Optimized Dolby Home Theater v4 audio enhancements with two built-in stereo speakers and high-definition audio support. There’s also a built-in digital microphone for use with your video chat adventures, and under the hood you’ve got a lovely 256GB SSD drive as well. The touchpad is what Acer calls their “ZoomPerfect” unit with single and multi-finger scroll action – that’s up to 5 fingers to scroll, pinch, rotate, flip, and the like.
Weighing in at 2.86 lbs / 1.3kg and measuring in at 17.2″ W x 3.58″ D x 10.67″ H (437mm W x 91mm D x 271mm H), you’ll find this mix of metal and glass to be a joy to use – and to look at. When you open it and feel the unique edges around the touchscreen as well as the Gorilla Glass top, you’ll find yourself dually impressed. This machine is an Acer triumph without a doubt in its hardware build – the aesthetics alone make this easily one of the most beautifully full-looking notebooks on the market – and not just in the Windows 8 category.
The machine folds down to a thinness that’s straight up surprising, making it opening it for the first time an experience that may very well have you skipping the pleasantries and kicking your pocketbook out immediately. But you’ll want to take heed: there are some drawbacks to such a thin beast with a display that’s both touch-capable and incredible sharp, not to mention bright as you could possible want it to be. Battery life – as I’m sure you’re wondering about – will betray you if you’re expecting to go more than 4 hours at full-blast high-action video streaming and interactive touchscreen gaming.
But if you’re a realist and never go anywhere with your notebook computer without a power cord anyway, you’re going to have a bit more difficult a time finding reasons not to want this machine. Of course the price is always going to be a factor here in our present when it’s above $1,600 USD. That’s a massive price for a computer, especially if you only plan on using it to impress your friends and surf the web. That’s not what this computer is made for.
Instead you’re going to want to focus on what you get for the price. Acer has created a masterpiece for the Windows 8 generation. This is the computer Steve Ballmer should be carrying around to show off what Windows 8 can do – it’s that slick.
Peruse the rest of the reviews of this machine as they appear popping up across the web over the next few weeks and see where the low points are – you’ll find many folks saying the price is prohibitive while the rest suggest that the battery life in any notebook should be 6 hours or more. First you should know that we’ve gotten 5+ hours out of the device on multiple heavy-use occasions – great by your average user’s standards. Next you’ll be glad to hear that standby time for this notebook is undeniably great – Acer assures that with “Acer Hybrid Standby Technology” you’ll be able to get 80 days of standby power: that’s intense, and we’ve not seen any evidence yet to suggest they’re telling us anything less than the truth there with months of up-time. These “low points” are completely forgivable for what Acer is presenting here in the Autumn of 2012.
Software
The 10-finger touchscreen you’re working with here includes some software enhancements – most of them aesthetic – that make your Windows 8 experience the best we’ve seen thus far. You get tiny momentarily-visible transparent dots wherever you tap the screen, and as you move your fingers around, you get ghostly trails from your fingertips, allowing you to instantly understand how your tips are touching and moving. Having used several touchscreen PCs before the dawn of Windows 8, we can safely say that this is a major leap forward in real-world usability, without a doubt.
Have a peek also at our full Windows 8 review to see exactly what we’re dealing with here, with a few additions that include mostly new apps and security measures from Acer. You’ve got Acer Theft Shield, Acer Cloud, Acer Backup Manager, ePower Management, and eRecovery Management, and a whole lot more. For the most part, Acer’s additions to the basic Windows 8 build include connections to their own ecosystem – most of which are entirely positive and worth the effort you’ll be using to attach yourself.
System – Acer Aspire S7-391
Manufacturer
Acer
Product Type
Notebook
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit)
Motherboard
Acer Storm
Processor
Intel Core i7-3517U
Processor ID
GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
Processor Frequency
2.39 GHz
Processors
1
Threads
4
Cores
2
L1 Instruction Cache
32.0 KB
L1 Data Cache
32.0 KB
L2 Cache
256 KB
L3 Cache
4.00 MB
Memory
3.82 GB DDR3 SDRAM 666MHz
FSB
99.8 MHz
BIOS
Insyde Corp. V2.05
You’ll be using your touchpad here in combination with the touch screen, but you’ll be able to use one or the other exclusively if you’re up for it. There’s an on-screen touch keyboard you can use if for some reason you want to move your hands up 4 inches above your perfectly capable physical keyboard, and the touchscreen isn’t necessarily required, so to speak, for anything if you don’t want to. You also get a Bluetooth mouse with the package if you’re feeling like some standard plastic mouse action – it’s standard, and certainly usable, but not a whole lot more than that. The physical keyboard also uses the computer’s light sensing abilities to keep your eyes happy, with backlighting activating as the atmosphere dims.
If you have trouble with “setting up” your computer, you can refer to the included “Setup Poster” included in the box, or you can use your Wireless Setup Card too – Acer has made the process simpler than ever before here – strange since the process includes no more than a few button taps and maybe even a connection with password to your wireless network. Important point here is that it’s simple enough for your parents to do themselves – really!
Have a peek at our standard benchmarking results here with Geekbench and feel the power – it’s a top of the line experience whether you’re cruising through your newest massively power-hungry game or viewing your favorite HD feature film.
Benchmark Score – Acer Aspire S7-391
Section
Description
Score
Total Score
Windows x86 (64-bit) – Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit)
Integer
Processor integer performance
6089
8100
Floating Point
Processor floating point performance
11149
Memory
Memory performance
7016
Stream
Memory bandwidth performance
6638
Sound
The speakers on this machine are good enough for a personal computing experience and accurate even up to their loudest positions. Acer isn’t messing around with the external speaker sound quality here, with two Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers backed up with sound enhancements by Dolby. The fans on this machine, working with Acer TwinAir cooling technology, can get a bit louder than we’d like to hear on a regular basis. It’s not an issue unless you’re working with high-powered gaming or hours and hours of streaming video, and the trade-off is a rather pleasant lap experience – we’ve not felt anything hot going on yet.
Unique Touchscreen Experience
This machine has a hinge that allows it to fold back to 180 degrees – that means you’ll be able to go flat against a table, keyboard and touchscreen included. If you’ve used a machine that folds back further than this, you’ll find yourself feeling a bit limited by the flat-stop. If you’ve only ever used a notebook that folds back to 45 degrees, on the other hand, you’ll be surprised by how often you’ll want to push that screen back further, and further, and further. The viewing angles on the display are also near-perfect, making any angle look as great as the next (unless you count the high-gloss reflection-intense glass, of course).
This will also be a new experience for those of you used to using a tablet computer exclusively, as it really does combine the notebook and tablet experiences into one. If you’ve ever found yourself tapping your notebook screen after extensive tablet use, you’ll fall right in line with the S7′s experience. Windows 8 and the developers optimizing their applications for touchscreen action here in the first Windows 8 wave of app upgrades make this touch-and-tap combination one we’re really, truly enjoying. Working with the Aspire S7 will make you want to convert to this new universe – it’ll make you want to change and be assimilated.
Wrap-Up
This machine is Acer’s best effort yet. It’s an Ultrabook that makes the Windows 8 experience an enjoyable one – and on a personal note, it’s the first in many moons that’s made certain Apple-exclusive family members of mine think about trying a switch (having seen it at Thanksgiving, of course). You’ll certainly have to weigh the benefits of having this top-class machine in your position against the amount of cash you’re going to have to dish out since it’s certainly not the most budget-minded beast on the market, but after that, it’s all smooth sailing.
As with all of our reviews of products large and small, this is not the end of the review – let us know if there’s anything else you’d like to know about the machine and we’ll do our best to let you know what we know! We’ll continue to test this machine into the future and will let you know if anything ground-shattering changes our experience in any grand way – meanwhile feel free ask any and all questions you may have and make requests to your heart’s content!
A programmer named Darius Kazemi made Random Shopper, a software ‘bot that buys random items from Amazon. Why? Kazemi wanted to replicate the feeling of receiving an item that you already forgot you bought. It’s like a surprise gift from yourself to you! Welcome to Forever Alone: Holiday Edition.
Random Shopper starts by getting a random word from the Wordnik API then searching for that word on Amazon. It will then buy the first item it finds under its budget, which for now is $50 (USD). Then it will look for another item that’s within what’s left of its money and so on. But Kazemi cheated a bit because the Random Shopper isn’t that random: it will only buy the item if it’s a CD, DVD or a paperback book. I guess that’s a reasonable rule. That way the money isn’t completely wasted on some random crap that Kazemi won’t use.
The packages shown in the top picture are the first batch of Random Shopper’s “gifts” to Kazemi. You can check out what’s inside them on his Random Shopper blog. What I want now is a robot that secretly takes money from my wallet then randomly places it into my other stuff, so I can replicate the feeling of finding money I didn’t know I had.
It really sucks when your gear runs out of juice and you’ve got no easy way of recharging. It’s even worse when you’re stuck somewhere that doesn’t have any power outlets or you just don’t have the time to charge up your gadgets. Admittedly, the AViiQ Portable Charging Station won’t solve all of these problems, but you’ll never be without your cables again.
The AViiQ Portable Charging Station stores all of your charging devices in a compact and convenient sleeve. This time, the AViiQ station even has a battery-power, so you’ll be able to juice up your iDevices no matter where you are. There’s a 4-port USB hub allowing you to charge up to 4 devices simultaneously. It also comes with a 5200 mAh battery, which should allow you to charge both your iPad and iPhone almost completely. However, it does weigh 1.55 lbs, and measures 11 inches in length, so you won’t be able to lug it around in your pocket.
It’s available for $169.99(USD) on Amazon. Last year’s model – which doesn’t include the battery pack – is on sale for just $39.99.
Here at SlashGear we’ve got a lot to be thankful for, and without a doubt we’ve got more people to thank for making this all possible than we can possibly list. That said, we’re certainly about to try to thank everyone who went above and beyond for us over the past year, starting with you – the readers! We consider you to be not just the people that keep us in a steady job and off the streets with your interest in what we’ve got to present, but our extended network of friends as well – we’re here for you first and foremost, and we want to make sure you understand that you mean a lot to us!
Next it only makes sense to thank our sponsors, without whom we’d still be able to write, but we’d have a lot less food at home to keep our stomaches full. We thank you for continuing to see the tech and gadget publishing world as the strong force it continues to be today. You remain one of the vital connections we make each day and we’re glad to help you reach your consumer base as well.
We’d like to thank the PR teams we get to work with on a consistent basis as well – you’re the unsung heroes that keep us connected with the gadgets and technology we love so well – while under the hood we’d like to thank the UK2Group for sponsoring our CDN for the past 2 years. Thanks too to the companies which have supported us with giveaways; we’re hoping to have more of those soon too.
The teams running both Pepcom and ShowStoppers continue to deserve props for bringing us a more personal experience to the tech event world during gigantic events like CES (coming up again in just 46 days from now) and during the year in-between larger conventions. And every company that has launched a new product this past year, and kept us curious about the consumer electronics world as a whole, today’s the day we toast you!
Of course I’d like to thank my teammates – bosses, new recruits, and everyone in-between – for continuing to create a unique environment in which my unique set of abilities – and your unique set of interests – can match up on the daily. Let us know what and who you’re thankful for as we load up on the only thing we love more than electronics – massive amounts of food!
While it took me some time to become a fast texter on a touchscreen, anyone who’s had a touchscreen phone knows, that with time, you can type pretty fast on one. That being said, nothing works quite as fast as keys you can actually feel, and this is where the FlipType case comes in.
The FlipType case was conceived by NOS Design, and it’s supposed to make the on-screen keys on your iPhone easier to use, providing a tactile response from them. The translucent, tactile keyboard flips around from the back of the case, and allows users to instantly transition from a touchscreen device to a keyboard you can feel. One limitation of the design is that it only works in portrait mode, but that’s how most of us type on our iPhones anyhow.
While it’s not the first tactile keyboard overlay for the iPhone, it’s an interesting concept since it’s built into a case, and can be used only when you need it.
Have you ever been playing around with molten metal salt, when you accidentally created hollow, soft-shelled particles that could one day increase hard disk storage or power future QLED displays? Us neither, but that’s exactly what happened to scientists at Rice University when they were researching “tetrapods” to make solar panels more efficient. Through an apparently wacky coincidence, they removed a single ingredient from the tetrapod stew, which left behind tiny droplets of cadmium nitrate. Selenium then melted around those drops, which completely dissolved away, leaving a melted selenium ball with a hole in the middle. It turns out that those selenium “doughnuts” can be packed tightly onto a metal surface without touching, thanks to their soft shells, which could allow more bits to be packed onto a hard drive, or be used in quantum computers and next-gen displays. Since the dots are smaller than a living cell, it took the researchers an entire year to figure out what they’d made and how they did it — luckily they didn’t just bin the whole thing and start over.
The Macintosh Portable was Apple’s first battery-powered portable computer. Released in 1989, it weighed 16lbs., had a 16MHz CPU, a black and white screen and lead-acid batteries, hence its nickname, “Macintosh Luggable.” People had to pay $6,500 for the curse of owning this darned thing. Which is why I find this hack to be so funny.
Yes, that Macintosh Portable has a color screen and is running Mac OS X. Patrick Blampied used the hardware from his old Toshiba NB100 netbook to make this modern miracle possible. In other words, it’s a Hackintosh. Blampied also painstakingly rewired and soldered a Dell keyboard to a USB controller for this project. The classic Apple mouse has an optical mouse in its guts, though it still only has one button. Finally, in place of the lead-acid batteries Blampied put the battery from a cordless drill.
The only thing this computer has over Apple’s current lineup is that sweet rainbow logo. Blampied said he’ll upload more pictures and information about his hack on his blog.
Western Digital has announced a new high-capacity hard drive that slots into its existing Black series lineup. The hard drive should offer more than enough capacity for all ofyour torrented episodes of Doctor Who and your cat memes. The new WD4001FAEX hard drive has a whopping 4TB of storage capacity.
The drive is a 3.5-inch form factor and spins at a speedy 7200 RPM, and is designed for desktop computers. It has a 64 MB cache and uses the SATA 6Gb/s interface.
Western Digital also fits the drive with a bunch of technology to help reduce power consumption and extend its usable life. It offers dual processors for twice the processing power, dual actuator technology, and NoTouch ramp technology to extend the life of the drive. Western Digital also covers the drive with a five-year limited warranty.
The drives are shipping immediately and should be available shortly from various retailers for $339 (USD).
This is site is run by Sascha Endlicher, M.A., during ungodly late night hours. Wanna know more about him? Connect via Social Media by jumping to about.me/sascha.endlicher.
