Tried and tested - Computing & Media Players - Tiscali Shopping

Take a look at this week's tried and tested products for inspiration on what's new in the market. Time to upgrade your PC or swap your MP3 for a flash new MP4. Find out what we thought.

An overview of the key features:

• Full support of new handwriting recognition, inking and pen features in Microsoft and Apple OS
• High resolution and report rate for outstanding accuracy
• Touch Ring for instant zoom and scroll
• Four customisable ExpressKeys for frequently used functions
• Paper-like work area for a natural experience
• 360-degree pan/scroll mode for fast navigation
• Battery-free pen with ergonomic feel
• Multifunctional pen stand
• Detachable USB cable for simpler portability
• Premium Microsoft certification "Certified for Vista"

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What we thought:
I loved the fact that you can add your own distinctive touches to anything you create or review by adding handwritten notes, sketches or signature to emails. It's user friendly and is made to work on wider screens which it did no problem.

I love how natural it feels holding the pen and the tablet and pen look great in the matt and shiny black plastic. The easy to connect and detach usb cable are perfect for using with laptops or for moving between work and home.

Reviewed June 2007
 

Pros: We have been using the Roberts Gemini 49 Digital Portable Radio now for several weeks. It is an attractive piece of equipment which comes in glossy 'iPod' white and at the moment it is connected to the mains with the included AC adaptor. However come summer time, we'll be using one of the best features of this Roberts portable - the in-built battery charger - a necessary function for the rechargeable batteries (6), which you have to buy seperately. Normal batteries would run out quite quickly on a digital radio but of course one can use these too. The radio is a neat size for a portable - 215 x 116 x 40 mm and light in weight. It costs around £60.
The instruction booklet was fairly easy to follow and we managed to programme the 10 pre-set stations quite easily. We like the clear LCD display and the scrolling programme description for each station and there is a well designed volume control knob at the side.

Cons: Although a date and time display is supposed to be available for the FM programmes but we could not work out how to set it - we could phone the technical helpline number of course! In fact it would be very useful to have a permanent time display in addition to other information. The sound quality is clear enough for our use, but there is no fine tuning for tonal difference. As this is a 'portable' radio and it would be nice to take it on a picnic or to the beach, and therefore it would be useful to have an integral handle and the option to buy a carry case with a shoulder strap. There is also a headphone socket. Another slight thought is that this radio is light in weight and the aerial is comparatively heavy, especially when stretched out at an angle and is a little top heavy. The stability of the radio would be improved if there was a small built in stand at the back. When changing stations by pushing the buttons the radio is a little bit unstable.

Overall: All in all this is one of the smallest portable DAB radios around at the moment and its positive aspects greatly outweigh the small criticisms. It is justifying its existence very well and it is a welcome addition to our household.

Reviewed by E. Fattal - January 2007.
  £59.95

"Experience the convenience of a full-size keyboard that's light weight, wireless & fits in your pocket! Washable & rollable, it's truly revolutionary!"

Pros: I tried the keyboard on a Nokia 6630 and managed to get it working in about 5 minutes. Once installed, you just tell it to find your keyboard and type away. The software allows you to navigate all the menus on Nokia phones, just as you would using the phone keypad itself. The keyboard itself proved very accurate and fast to type on, although you have to tap the keys quite hard. Great portability factor - no wires, just roll up and place in the little pouch bag provided for added protection.

Cons: There are only a couple of downsides in my opinion. You have to install a couple of bits of software on your phone before you can use it which can take a bit of time if you're not familiar with how to do this. The keyboard is not compatible with all Bluetooth-enabled phones which is a shame - this is because the handset needs to be working on a compatible operating platform. That said, I also tried the keyboard with a Nokia N80 which has built-in support for Bluetooth keyboards, but I couldn't get it to recognise this particular keyboard. The only other issue I had with this keyboard was the size of the battery housing, which is almost as large as some phones. Unfortunately, this added bulk and weight to to a piece of kit which scores so highly in most other areas.

Reviewed by B. Howes in December 2006.
 

"The Akara K1 can hold up to a 17" laptop in its unique COCOON™ protection system. Akara K1 is the urban answer to the traditional backpack. Being able to carry all your belongings, comfortably and safely is a great asset for any bag to have and the Akara K1 does it all in stylish simplicity."

What we liked: A great versatile bag that is perfect for carrying your laptop in a discreet way. It has lots of useful internal and external compartments. The straps are thick and well padded and the area that lies directly on your back is well padded too. It has plenty of straps to secure it to your back if you were to run or walk a lot. I liked its handy top handle that is great for moving the bag on a plane or train if you can't put it on your back.
What we weren't so keen on: The front pockets aren't secure and anyone could open them, you therefore can't afford to keep anything too valuable in them. I felt it more suitbale for men than women as it is very tall and a bit bulky. It is a bit expensive for ocassional use, so it is more suitable for the office worker or even University student. I would one for my husband but would go for something more traditional for myself or something that I can pull along the floor.
Reviewed November 2006
  £69.99

"The UNOTRON ScrollSeal Washable Optical Mouse uses patented SpillSeal® Technology and has been tested to the international standards of IP66 and Nema4X."

Currently being tested.

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