Stories by David Ramli

Microsoft launches Surface touch PCs

Microsoft has officially launched its Surface line of touch computer units in Australia with a focus on retail, education and finance markets.

Seagate Momentus 7200.4 (ST9500420AS) hard drive

The Seagate Momentus 7200.4 (ST9500420AS) is a 500GB 2.5in hard drive with a spin speed of 7200rpm and a 16MB cache. Despite being small enough to fit in a laptop drive bay it is faster than many 3.5in hard drives designed for desktop PCs.

Sonim XP3 Enduro mobile phone

The Sonim XP3 Enduro is a ruggedised GSM mobile phone that is tough and waterproof. If you live or work in conditions where accidental drops are common, this is a phone that will come in handy.

MSI PX600 notebook

The MSI PX600 is an attractive leather-bound notebook that has a fast processor, plenty of RAM and a good price. However, this 15.4in laptop comes with a keyboard that is too spongy and it weighs a hefty 2.75kg (not including the power supply).

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS

The Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS is a 1TB internal desktop hard drive with a 32MB cache and a spin speed of 7200rpm. It has two 500GB platters and offers very fast transfer speeds.

Toshiba Portege M800 (PPM81A-08S01S) notebook

The Toshiba Portege M800 (PPM81A-08S01S) is a fast and portable 13.3in laptop. It also has a bright pink chassis. While we aren't fans of the notebook's colour, people looking for a design that stands out may enjoy it.

Toshiba Satellite L300 (PSLB8A-0FM004) notebook

The Toshiba Satellite L300 (PSLB8A-0FM004) is a budget laptop with plenty of ports, a good battery life and a 15.4in screen. Unfortunately its processor speeds are very slow, even for a notebook under $1000.

Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B (HDT721010SLA360)

The Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B (HDT721010SLA360) internal hard drive may have slower transfer speeds than other "green" drives, but it's cool, quiet and energy efficient. It is also cheap, making it an attractive option.

Iridium 9505A satellite phone

The Iridium 9505A is a satellite phone with fast signal acquisition and a semi-rugged chassis that makes it resistant to water and shocks. Unfortunately, it is expensive and doesn't offer GSM network access.

Thuraya SG-2520

The Thuraya SG-2520 is a satellite and tri-band GSM smartphone that bundles features like a camera and a 1.9in colour LCD into a light and portable package.

Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus

The Maxtor OneTouch 4 Plus external desktop drive has a 750GB capacity and can connect to your PC through either USB 2.0 or FireWire 400 ports. It may not look pretty, but its good transfer speeds and fair pricing make it worth buying.

Kingston SSDNow M series SNM125-S2/80GB

The Kingston SSDNow M series SNM125-S2/80GB solid state drive provides excellent performance for a 2.5in hard drive, but the very high cost and low 80GB capacity make it a very expensive storage option.

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