Into Tech

Like most supermodels, “luxurious” laptops tend to be pretty on the outside and ugly from within. But MSI took a few extra steps to crush that stereotype. You see, despite having a ring of crystals encrusted on its lid, the M677 was also fitted with a healthy number of components like a dual-core AMD processor and it’s own video card. It’s still too flashy for my tastes, but at least you know it’s more than a fancy paperweight. Click on for a rundown of the specs.

The M677 is powered by an AMD Turion 64 X2 processor and can fit up to 2GB of memory inside its chassis. It’s got a 15.4-inch screen and comes with everything you’d expect from mid-size notebook like built-in wireless (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi), a GeForce Go 7600 video card, a 1.3-megapixel camera, and a dual-layer DVD burner. MSI hasn’t released pricing and availability, but for a “luxury” lappie, it ain’t bad.

– Louis Ramirez

If their last PC was the Hummer of the Media Center world, this one’s undoubtedly the Beetle. Living up to its namesake, the new Stealth Media Center measures a scant 3.6-inches high yet packs enough media muscle to merit a spot next to your plasma. Design-wise, it’s one of the better looking MCE PCs out there and it’s no slouch when it comes to performance either. Click through for a run down of its insides.

The Stealth comes in 4 different configurations (starts at $4,399). Each model is powered by a dual-core AMD processor and comes with a minimum of 1GB of RAM, dual TV tuners (1 HD and 1 SD), and enough space to accommodate a 1.5TB SATA drive. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth aren’t built-in, which is a sin considering the starting price, but to make up for it you get enough ports for pretty much everything that sits in your living room, and it’s even HDCP-compliant. The pricing is too high for this blogger’s wallet, but any MCE fans out there with cash to invest can’t go wrong.

For what feels like centuries, the iPod was considered the must-have music device. An elegant design and simple interface made even the sluttiest of fratboys fall in love.

But then came along Microsoft’s Zune. Instead of a dainty, scratch-prone piece of MP3 china, the Zune is chunky and coated in spank-me-harder rubber. And the Zune was there for us with a shoulder to cry on during those nights we vented how the iPod lacked WiFi, FM, and a general understanding of “a woman’s needs”. Even if it only goes up to 30GB.

We appreciate that the Zune let’s us hook up and share moments on trains or bathroom stalls, but we still crave the monogamy of iTunes DRM support. Hit the jump for our Frankenreview: A review culled from the bits and pieces of Pogue’s NYTimes article, Mossberg’s work at the WSJ, and opinions from our friends at Business Week and CNet. There’s a lot to say, so we’ve sectioned off the writeup into categories on Design, Screen, UI, Software, and Sharing. And we’ve got all of our beautiful gallery shots after the jump. What are you waiting for? Jump on through!

Design:

“It can’t touch the iPod’s looks or coolness, but it’s certainly more practical…won’t get fingerprinty and scratched…”

“The hardware feels rushed and incomplete. It is 60% larger and 17% heavier than the comparable iPod.”

“…it’s a nice size and weight…neither too thin to hold nor too big to pocket…”

“…You’ll want to scroll the circular controller at first impulse…”

“…it lacks the famous iPod scroll wheel, instead using a common four-way navigation pad…”

“…while the controls lack the elegant minimalism of iPod’s scroll wheel they are well designed…”

“Scrolling accelerates as you press the top or bottom button, but the iPod’s wheel is much more efficient…”

WINNER: iPod

Screen:

“The Zune’s screen is taller than it is wide — unlike the iPod’s — so you can see more of your lists without scrolling.”
“It has three brightness settings and though the display is slightly washed out, it’s colorful and bright enough for outdoor use…”
“…when videos or photos play, the screen image rotates, meaning you have to turn the player 90 degrees. And just as on the iPod, portrait-oriented photos are now shrunken…”
“…While it is three inches versus 2.5 inches for the iPod’s screen, it uses the same resolution…”
“…many album covers look worse than they do on the iPod.”
WINNER: Tie


Interface:
“…the interface is dark, clean, and stable. It’s aesthetically pleasing and functional…”

“The software design is beautiful, simple and graced by brief, classy animations.”

“…the entire interface is more colorful and visually satisfying than the iPod’s.”

“You can also select your own photo as the wallpaper or background for the device.”

WINNER: Zune


Software/Store: