Hasta La Gadget!

We saw the first motherboard we’d actually consider buying a clear case for earlier this week when ASUS announced its new Marine Cool concept mobo, so we couldn’t resist the urge to swing by and grab a few snaps of it here at CeBIT. Unfortunately, the board was sitting behind 3-inches of bulletproof glass, but that didn’t stop our lens from getting as close as possible. We’ll be frank — this thing looks even better in person, and it just might be the catalyst the mobo world needed to start caring about design.

Filed under: Peripherals

Hands-off with ASUS Marine Cool concept motherboard originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 04:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Razer’s Carcharias headset is yet another audio-related diversion for the input peripheral company, and as with its mighty impressive Mako 2.1 sound system, this here headset was remarkably solid. Originally announced at CES this year, this gaming headset is a multi-functional tool that works first and foremost as a two-way communication device for gamers who love to yap while fragging. Secondly, it can double as a really, really decent set of cans. The flip-down microphone can easily fold up and out of the way, and considering just how light these are, they can be worn for hours on end (trust us, we tried) without any sort of ear pain and unusual pressure on your dome.

The lengthy braided cable was slick, the in-line remote was a thoughtful touch and the headband was amongst the most comfortable we’ve had the pleasure of coming into contact with at this price point. When speaking with Razer CEO Robert Krakoff, he confessed that these were specifically designed to be worn comfortably for upwards of 10 hours, and we believe it. He also noted that customers were clamoring for deeper bass response in its headphone products, and yet again, it delivered in bringing the low-end to these cans. Not once did we feel the bass was magnified out of proportion, and while it’s obviously designed to let gamers feel the “booms,” we thoroughly enjoyed how it handled good ole rock ‘n roll.

All in all, we’re comfortable recommending these to PC gamers who could also use a new pair of headphones for music alone. At $79.99, these are solid enough to last you for quite some time, and the superior comfort level here is really what sets it apart. Razer may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think audio, but these are definitely worth a listen.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio

Razer Carcharias headset: unboxing and impressions originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Remember that funky Casio we spotted in the FCC around two months ago? Even if not (we’re guessing you said “no”), we’re betting that real, bona fide images will stick to your memory cells a lot better than some low-rate sketch. Word on the street has it that the cameraphone will arrive with a 5.1 megapixel shooter and a WVGA rotating display, and it seems that all signs are pointing to a near term release of the outfit’s Exilim C721. Your guess is as good as ours on pricing, but you can hit up the read link for a few more looks.

Filed under: Cellphones

Casio’s Exilim C721 pictured for Verizon Wireless originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the longest while, we couldn’t figure out who let the standalone HD DVR die. To this day, we’re still scrambling to find an answer, but thankfully DISH Network has stepped in to revive the niche while the search continues. The outfit’s DTVPal DVR has been circulating for almost a century now (okay, just a year and change, but there’s hardly a difference in the grand scheme of things), and Mr. Dave Zatz has done us the honors of unboxing one and setting it up. The unit actually doubles as a DTV converter box and an HD DVR, and Zatz found setup to be almost too painless. Everything seemed to be humming along just fine at last check, so feel free and have a look at the gallery in the read link below before pulling the trigger.

Filed under: HDTV, Home Entertainment

DISH Network’s DTVPal DVR unboxed and previewed originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We won’t lie — we’ve always been harsh on Vertu handsets. As a rule, they’re technologically inferior to handsets that are a twelfth the price, and honestly, they’re usually pretty unsightly. But you know, Boy Genius Report‘s hands-on experience with the stainless steel Signature S Design really has us back on the fence. Sure, it’s the price of a decent subcompact, but man, it’s as sleek as sleek could ever hope to be. Have a look in the read link for a hands-on gallery that’s sure to make you envious — whether you’re willing to admit it or not.

Filed under: Cellphones

Vertu’s overpriced Signature S Design gets hands-on treatment originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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