Help Spot and Avoid a Fake Mobile Phone for WCRD 2012

People can inadvertently purchase a fake or sub-standard phone, through no fault of their own, by trying to find a cheaper price for a phone - especially on the internet," said Michael Milligan, Secretary General of the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF).

"Everyone wants to be able to buy a product at a good price. But unscrupulous suppliers are exploiting that desire for a WiFi Mobile Phone bargain to sell products that are not what they claim, or that are just poor quality and perhaps even dangerous. To help consumers identify and avoid these fake or knock-off phones, genuine manufacturers have created the www.spotafakephone.com website."

Most fake phones are counterfeit copies of genuine handsets, which steal intellectual property such as buy wholesale designs, technologies and trademarks to deliberately deceive consumers. Fake Android Phone are also produced without government approval, safety testing or certification and are sold illegally on the world's black markets.

"The global black market for fake handsets has grown rapidly over the past few years and is estimated to be in excess of 200 million devices every year," Mr. Milligan said.

"With counterfeiters imitating all facets of a phones appearance, including china phone labelling, design and packaging, it can be hard to spot whether a phone is fake or genuine, so the mobile industry developed this website to help consumers identify fakes and make the right choice."

"Often it is the sub-standard components, low quality manufacturing and tv phone poor performance that impact on consumers after they have already purchased a fake, especially in the area of consumer safety, and usually the consumer has no recourse with the supplier."

"Another important benefit of buying a genuine dual sim phone is that original manufacturers stand behind the quality of their own products and provide important product warranties to consumers should problems arise after purchase." Mr. Milligan said.

Consumers can do their part in helping to identify, report and avoid fake or knock off phones by going to: www.spotafakephone.com.

The spotafakephone.com site is part of an international project that has been developed by the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (www.mmfai.org), an international association of telecommunications equipment manufacturers with an interest in mobile or wireless communications.

Huawei seeks unique role in China’s mobile phone industry

Chinese mobile giant Huawei became the largest Chinese smartphone provider by selling 20 million smartphones globally in 2011. But it has a more aggressive ambition–to climb to the list of world’s top three smartphone providers, making its mobile phone product line as successful as its base line.

Chinese mobile giant Huawei became the largest china mobile phones Chinese smartphone provider by selling 20 million smartphones globally in 2011. But it has a more aggressive ambition–to climb to the list of world’s top three smartphone providers, making its mobile phone product line as successful as its base line.

To achieve this goal, Huawei has been dedicated to accelerating the development of new mobile products. In Mobile World Congress 2012 held in Barcelona, Huawei showcased a series of new products, including MediaPad 10 FHD tablet, and Ascend D quad smartphone. However, apart from these products, Huawei was more eager to show off its other major achievement–K3V2 quad-core processor independently designed by itself.

K3V2 can be clocked at either 1.2 or 1.5GHz. The company said the tv mobile phone chip delivers 30 to 50 percent more performance than the Tegra3 across a range of benchmarks. Huawei has billed it as the fastest quad-core processor in the world.

For a long time, the ability to develop a processor of one’s own has been a key indicator for the core competence of a hardware company in the industry. China providers once developed ark, Godson and other made-in-China CPUs; however, the performance was not very competitive.

But for a mobile phone provider, Huawei’s mobile watch phones attempt was unprecedented in China. Chinese

manufacturers generally prefer to take advantage of the ripe solutions provided by other chip companies.

MediaTak’s lowcost Turnkey solution, for instance, has been the elderly phones main technical support for many copy-cat mobile phone manufacturers. The high investment and high risk in the semiconductor industry has deterred any mobile phone producer from a rash entry.

But Huawei has been underlining its strength in R&D, distancing itself from any traditional mobile phone manufacturers in China. Secretary General of China Cellphone Union Lao Yao, who have been closely following the development of semiconductors, said as far as the global mobile terminal industry is concerned, it is a trend for a cellphone provider to develop its own chips. Apple and Sumsung have already been doing it, and Huawei is trying to catch up in its endeavor to become the world’s top-rated mobile product manufacturer designing chips by itself.

“Huawei started its cellphone design from the chip. The Android Phones development of the most basic technique could provide a firm support for the variation of its mobile phones; in other words, Huawei is going to start from the bottom technique . “said Lao Yao.

Huawei has been in semiconductor industry for many years. Indeed, the quad-core K3V2 processor was developed by “Haisi Semiconductors”, one of Huawei’s affiliates. Haisi Semiconductors Co. Ltd was established in 2004, formerly the Huawei’s “heart” department – Huawei IC design center founded in 1991. Huawei Haisi products cover wireless networks, fixed networks, digital media, and other areas of chips and solutions.

Just about two years ago, Huawei Haisi launched a 600MHZ chip–Hisilicon K3, though it failed to win much recognition in the unlocked android phone market due to wrong positioning or flaws. The recent return to the chip field shows Huawei’s firm resolve to compete in the chip market.

But even though Huawei’s technical strength has won wide recognition among other Chinese mobile phone manufacturers, it has a weak brand. The company formerly sold products directly to operators, with little direct contact with its users. It needs a new brand image now to present itself to enterprise and individual users.

IT analyst and Huawei-savvy Ji Yongqing said the majority of Huawei’s marketing personnel come from the departments of the operators and thus lack experience in brand marketing. He said Huawei needs more brand promotion campaigns especially in Chinese and Indian markets, where operators have a weak grip on consumers.

Huawei’s earlier sponsoring in Italy’s Super Cup, as Ji saw it, yielded little fruit in promoting the brand. “Huawei needs to introduce some talents in marketing from outside the company, to launch brand marketing with new ideas.” said Ji Yongqing.

Scientists hit out at Welsh Government's mobile phone advice to children

The Welsh Government has been accused by 20 scientists of giving children inaccurate information about using mobile phones.

According to the scientists, an official information leaflet adopts an inappropriate tone and plays down the potential health threats posed to youngsters by mobile phone use.

Last night, however, wholesale cell phones, the Welsh Government said it stood by its advice, which was based on peer-reviewed scientific literature.

A leaflet distributed in primary schools for children aged seven to 11 also appears in the elderly cell phone Welsh Government’s website. Headed “Mobile Phones and Your Health”, it starts: “Mobile phones are great for keeping in touch with friends and family, and millions of people all over the world use them everyday (sic). At the moment it seems that using a mobile phone won’t cause health problems.”

It goes on to say: “Even so, we don’t know for definite that problems will not be found in the future, so we suggest that you follow some easy steps now to keep yourself safe.”

A cartoon shows a boy asking his father whether he should use a mobile phone, and getting the hiphone answer: “Most phones don’t seem to cause health problems. But it’s a good idea to keep calls short just in case we find health problems in the future.”

Later in the leaflet a series of bullet point “top tips” include:

:: Send text messages instead of making calls;

:: Keep your mobile phone calls short;

:: Use a hands-free kit; and

:: Use the speaker phone feature.

Health campaigner Judith Davies, who lives near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire, has been in contact with four sim phone 20 international scientists who have written critical comments about the leaflet for primary school children and another for older pupils.

Greek cell biology experts Dr Adamantia Fragopoulou and Professor Lukas Margaritis said the suggestion in the leaflet that there was no positive evidence that exposure to mobile phones caused health problems: “This is totally wrong based on epidemiological and clinical data, both based on humans, not to mention the numerous lab animal experiments. Every answer given within the Welsh leaflet is scientifically wrong.”

Dr Olle Johansson, Associate Professor at the Department of Neuroscience in the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, said: “The type of radiation emitted by these gadgets has been linked to cancer, neurological diseases, impairments to Quad Band Cell Phone immune function and neurological function... We also know that this kind of radiation impacts DNA, leading to possible mutations and cancer development, as well as affecting fertility and reproduction, causing a dramatic decline in sperm count.”

Dr Gerd Oberfeld, public health officer in Salzburg, said: “There is strong evidence for an increased risk of brain tumours after at least 10 years use [of mobile phones].”

Ms Davies has been supported by her MP Jonathan Edwards, who said: “The Welsh Government should be pursuing a precautionary principle which is based on facts.

“The current position of the chinese phone Welsh Government smacks of the same failed public health approach to smoking – that while there’s no current evidence of harmful effects, there is nothing wrong with it.

“In my view, unless it can be scientifically proven, it is irresponsible for the Welsh Government to issue guidance to children and parents stating there are no dangers in the use of mobile phones.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Our advice in the Android Mobile Phone leaflets for children is based on an evaluation of the available evidence by experts at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) and peer-reviewed scientific literature. We stand by our advice and information in the leaflets which were endorsed by the HPA.

“While current research indicates that using mobile phones do not currently appear to cause health problems, we recognise more work still needs to be done. Therefore we have said as a precaution parents make sure their children take some simple steps to protect their health for the future, including keeping conversations short, using texts instead, and using the speaker facility rather than the phone, where possible.

“The leaflets also include the precautionary advice of the UK Chief Medical Officers, but we must be realistic and recognise that a large proportion of children now regularly use mobile phones.”

Microsoft puts back China Windows Phone 7 launch

Microsoft expects its Windows Phone 7 mobile operating system to launch in China during the first half of 2012, rather than in late 2011 as originally planned, the company said Saturday.

The US software giant is working to "ensure local citizens have a great experience with Windows Phones", and is working closely with its partners in China to determine through what channels and when buy wholesale Windows Phones will be available regionally, it said.

Microsoft had initially said it wanted to launch Windows Phone 7 in China during the second half of 2011. At the time, Microsoft had been in discussions with Chinese handset makers including Lenovo, ZTE and Huawei Technologies about developing Windows Phone 7 devices for china phone consumers.

The delay is probably due to the company wanting more time to negotiate deals with partners, or to better refine the operating system for Chinese consumers, said Mark Natkin, managing director for wholesale cell phones Marbridge Consulting. The company will likely take what it has learned from releasing Windows Phone 7 devices in other markets, and use those lessons for the launch of the phone in China.

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for more information on the reasons for the delay.

China presents an important opportunity for Microsoft. The country has already surpassed the US to become the world's largest smartphone market by shipments, according to research firm Strategy Analytics. In the hiphone third quarter, 23.9 million smartphones were shipped in the country, 600,000 units more than the US.

The hottest selling smartphones in China are those using Google's Android operating system. In the third watch phone quarter, Android smartphones had a 58 percent market share, according to research firm Analysys International.

Nokia's Symbian OS had the second highest market share, at 23 percent, a major drop from the 68 percent share it elderly phones had a year ago. Nokia has now adopted Windows Phone 7 for its smartphones, and earlier this WiFi Mobile Phone

year it also plans to launch handsets with Microsoft's mobile OS in China. However, the company did not give a specific launch date.

In China, Microsoft has a strong partner in Nokia, considering that the three sim phone smartphone vendor has a well known brand and a far-reaching retail distribution, Natkin said. Microsoft could also choose to target its Windows Phone 7 devices at China's business users, a segment of the market few smartphone vendors have gone after, he said.

10 Top Holiday Deals forTablet, Laptop, and Desktop Bargain Hunters

The holiday season is closing in and time is running out for shoppers looking to send or receive gifts across the country in time for Christmas. Time may not be on your side, but the deals are. Here's a AS07A32 look at this week's best sales for all the computer geeks on your list. Whether AS07A71 they're looking for a tablet, laptop, or deskop we've found something for everyone. Take a look.

BEST BUY: GATEWAY DESKTOP, $450

Model: DX4860-UB32P

Specs: 3.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core i3-2120, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1 TB hard disk drive, multi-card reader, 2 x USB 3.0, 10 x USB 2.0, 802.11 b/g/ n Wi-Fi, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Thoughts: This is a great buy for anyone looking for a lot of hard drive space and MS2180 a ton of USB ports for all your BTP-ARJ1 peripherals. You get a keyboard and mouse included with the tower, but you'll have to supply your own monitor.

BEST BUY: Toshiba Thrive Tablet, $300

Model: AT105-T108S

Specs: 10.1-inch display with 1280-by-800 BTP-AQJ1 resolution, 1 GHz dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 1 GB DDR2 RAM, 8GB onboard storage, media card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC), 2 x USB 2.0, Bluetooth 3.0 +HS, 2 megapixel front-facing webcam, hp pavilion dv4000 ac adapter Android 3.1 (Honeycomb)

Thoughts: You can save about $50-$70 by picking up Toshiba's Android-based tablet from Best Buy this week. The Thrive earned a pretty good rating from PCWorld's July review with 3.5 out of 5 stars. The device was BTP-ANJ1 praised for its sturdiness and plethora of external ports, but its heaviness and poor speakers brought down the device's high marks overall.

BEST BUY: Hewlett-Packard 15.6-inch Laptop, $400

Model: G6-1c58dx

Specs: 15.6-inch display with 1366-by-768 resolution, 1.4 GHz AMD GARDA31 quad-core A6-3400M processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HDD, webcam, 3 x USB 2.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, LC.BTP01.015 Windows 7 Home Premium

Thoughts: This would be a good entry-level LC.BTP01.017 laptop for anyone looking for something to take out on the road or for light use at home.

STAPLES: Dell Inspiron 620 Desktop PC, $500

Model: i620-3708NBK

Specs: 2.9 GHz quad-core BT.00803.015 Intel Core i5-2310, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 1 TB HDD, 8-in-1 card reader, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Keyboard, mouse, no monitor, 16x DVD drive, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Thoughts: Another good desktop deal to take a look at this HP DV2000 AC Adapter week with a great processor, and tons of RAM and hard drive space.

WALMART: Apple iPad 2 16GB Wi-Fi + 3G Bundle, $600

Model: iPad 2

Specs: 1GHz dual-core Apple A5 processor, 9.7-inch display BATBL50L8H with 1024-by-768 resolution, 16GB onboard storage, front- and rear-facing cameras, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, Wi-FI a/b/g/n, iOS 5

Thoughts: You can save $30 off Apple's list price for the iPad 2 with this 3ur18650f-2-qc175 online deal from Walmart. But Walmart's online bundles can be tricky so make sure you select the Ematic 3-in-1 Accessory Kit for 3UR18650F-3-QC228 iPad, iPhone or iPod to get the right price. You also get your choice of a Verizon or AT&T compatible device for your 3G service.

WALMART: Hewlett-Packard 17.3-inch Laptop, $399

Model: g7-1219wm

Specs: 17.3-inch LED-backlit display, 1.65 GHz AMD dual-core E-450 processor, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HDD, webcam, 2-in-1 card reader, 3 x USB 2.0, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Thoughts: The processor isn't much to get excited about, but the HP DV5000 AC Adapter screen size, good amount of storage and RAM make this a great buy for the price.

AMAZON: HP 20-inch TouchSmart PC, $600

Model: 310-1126

Specs: 20-inch LCD display with 1600-by-900 resolution, 2.9 GHz dual-core ACER TravelMate C200 battery AMD Athlon II X2 245e processor, 6GB DDR3 RAM, 1 TB HDD, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, DVD drive, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Thoughts: Microsoft's touch-friendly Windows 8 operating system is HP 500 AC Adapter expected in 2012. So get a jump on the trend by picking up this touchscreen all-in-one desktop.

AMAZON: Lenovo 15.6-inch Laptop, $460

Model: G570 43347PU

Specs: 15.6-inch display with 1366-by-768 resolution, 2.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core i3-2330M, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HDD, 4 x USB, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Thoughts: This laptop is a little heavy at 5.7 pounds, but the lc.btp00.001 Lenovo G570 has a good dual-core 3UR18650Y-2-QC261 processor, respectable amount of RAM, and a fair amount of hard drive space for less than $500.

OFFICE DEPOT: Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Tablet, $300

Model: 130425U

Specs: 10.1-inch display with 1280-by-800 aspire 3935 battery resolution, 1 GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor, 32GB onboard storage, microSD card reader, HDMI port, front- and rear-facing cameras, Bluetooth, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Android 3.1 Honeycomb

Thoughts: Lenovo dropped the price on this AS09B56 tablet from $500 to $350 in November, but you can save HP DV6000 AC Adapter another $50 by picking it up at Office Depot this week. PCWorld's review of the IdeaPad K1 gave this tablet 3.5 stars out of 5 for its stylish design and Lenovo's tweaks to the Android interface. But the tablet was criticized for its size and poor speakers.

OFFICE DEPOT: Toshiba Satellite 15.6-inch Laptop, $430

Model: L755-S5256

Specs: 15.6-inch display with 1366-by-768 4UR18650F-2-QC218 resolution, 2.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core i3-2310M, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 640GB HDD, 3 x USB 2.0, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Thoughts: This Toshiba L755 is HP DV8000 AC Adapter similar in specs to the Lenovo G570 Amazon is selling this week and is $30 cheaper. Even better you'll get more storage, but you'll have to deal with a slightly slower processor

A laptop would help accelerate her culinary studies

Jeannine Canales remembers the hot plate of curry chicken with rice they served her at the all-girls center where she lived 10 years ago. The aroma. The flavor. The warmth of the food.

It all enticed the 9-year-old Canales.

“I just fell in love with food,” she said. “I just wanted to know how to make lifebook s7110 battery . It was the taste, I think.”

Canales was at living at the lifebook s7010 battery Gladstone Center for Girls in South Miami after the state removed her from her mother’s care, deeming her mother unfit to care for her. The two had come from Havana to South Florida in 2001.

“I just felt like, ‘A mother losing her daughter, it’s hp 482186-003 battery kind of hard.’ I got emotional,” Canales said. “Now, I get to see her whenever I want to see her. I am happy about that.”

Canales grew up in several foster-care and fujitsu t900 battery group homes: The Gladstone Center, an all-girls foster home in Kendall, another South Miami group home. She now lives in a scarcely furnished group home in Cutler Bay.

Despite her challenges, Canales has not lost sight of what warmed her as a hp 432306-001 battery little girl, and hopes for a career in the culinary world. Today, she is a first-semester student at the Robert Morgan hp 432974-001 battery Educational Center, a vocational school near Cutler Ridge, where she is learning how to cook and the history behind different dishes.

“I want to become a famous chef,” Canales said. “I want to have the lifebook e8110 battery education on all kinds of food. I want to know about the spices and the herbs. They are the basics for all food.”

“She is an expert at making breads,” said Janet Moreno, Canales’ caregiver at the Cutler Bay group home.

From making Thanksgiving breadbaskets to hp 440704-001 battery whipping up Italian breads, pastelitos, fruit pies, sweet-potato pies and even a sweet-potato-pie cheesecake, Canales has become adept with dough.

She is eager for cooking classes to begin in the next hp 441132-003 battery semester. “I am a little tired of baking. I prefer to hp 440772-001 battery s cook because you get to add your own ingredients.” (On the list of foods she wants to learn how to make: rice with black beans, noodles, shrimp, crab, oysters, scallops and turkey with rice.)

There is one thing, however, that Canales can use hp 446507-001 battery immediately — a laptop computer.

“It’s going to be one of the tools that will help me achieve everything I want to do,” she said. “Right now, it is not hard, but it would be easier if I had a laptop.”

Without a laptop, Canales types recipes, does research on hp 535753-001 battery different dishes, writes school papers and does extra-credit assignments at the South Dade Regional Library in Cutler Bay.

The library is a half-mile walk from her home to the lifebook e8420 battery bus stop, then at least a 15-minute wait for the bus and a short ride on Lenovo T61 Battery either bus No. 1 or No. 52.

The 19-year-old, however, does not succumb to self-pity.

“It’s kind of hot out,” she said recently, “but hey, ‘It’s my education.’ ”

Aside from a laptop, Canales also hopes that for herhp 462853-001 battery first Christmas away from a foster home she will get culinary items, cookbooks and new clothes.

For the first time in her life, she also asked for something that is hp 485041-003 battery not necessary for her survival or for her education: an iPod Touch. Music is her third love, after cooking and playing basketball.

In her spare time, Canales likes to cook for the caregivers — Janet and Klay Moreno — at her lifebook e8210 battery Cutler Bay group home. On a recent afternoon, she made banana pudding for them.

After Canales sliced the bananas, crushed the vanilla wafers, mixed them with amilo l7300 battery condensed milk and put the pudding into the oven for seven minutes, she served the warm dessert.

“It’s the taste and the love behind the food when you make it that attracts me to cooking,” she said. “You feel so proud when you make something yourself. And you learn, too.”

 

 

Longest battery life laptops of 2011

hat's the most important measure of any laptop? Some might say the processor speed, or the size and weight, but at the end of the day, it's got to be battery life.

After all, these are mobile devices, designed to be used in lifebook p1510 battery coffee shops, airport lounges, and college libraries (even big laptops get carted around occasionally), so being able to spend the maximum amount of time possible away from a wall outlet is important.

During 2011, the CNET Labs team lifebook s7020 battery tested more than 100 laptops, from 11-inch ultraportables to lifebook ah530 battery monster 18-inch gaming rigs. Despite the wide range of laptop prices, components, and designs, hp 441425-001 battery life is better than ever across the board, thanks in part to Intel's current generation of power-efficient CPUs. Only a handful of systems this year had batteries that were deemed unacceptably short-lived.

Presented here are the top five 2011 laptops for lifebook ah550 battery life, as measured by our in-house video playback battery drain test. It's easy to guess that Apple makes at least one appearance on this list, but there are some surprises as well. Note that these rankings only include toshiba a105 battery integrated batteries, not secondary hp 448007-001 battery add-on slice batteries. If we included those, lifebook t4210 battery systems such as Sony's Vaio Z, with a combined 634 minutes between its internal battery and a $150 add-on slice battery together, would make the list.

Click through to the gallery to see the top five longest battery life laptops of 2011, then in the hp 513775-001 battery comments section below, let us know why battery life is, or is not, your most important factor in picking a laptop.

Five Reasons the Transformer Prime Can Replace Your Laptop

There are many reasons the Android-based Asus Transformer Prime looks appealing. In an early review, PCWorld's Melissa Perenson called it "one of the best tablet values today." Here are five reasons why your next work fpcbp42 laptop could be a Transformer tablet.

1. Portability

Whether it’s taking notes or accessing important lifebook a6110 battery documents while in the field, checking into email, or working from lifebook c1020 battery home, there is a need for portable computing. As it’s lifebook e8410 battery only 10.35 by 7.12 by 0.33 inches, and weighing just 1.29 pounds, the Transformer is even more portable than the smallest of laptops, yet its 10-inch, 1280x800 pixel display is large enough for doing real work.

2. Flexibility

Tablets aren’t often the first choice for lifebook t5010 battery extensive text input. Using an onscreen keyboard for a lifebook t4215 battery quick text message is fine, but even entering a long URL, much less writing pages of text, can be a pain. For those who prefer a physical keyboard, the Transformer Prime’s included keyboard dock is a welcome addition. You can carry the lifebook t1010 battery tablet alone, or just connect the Transformer with the hp 484170-001 battery keyboard and it becomes the hardware equivalent of a laptop. The dock includes not only a keyboard but also a touchpad, as well as a USB port and a card reader. The tablet alone weights 1.18 pounds, and becomes only 2.47 pounds with the keyboard--barely heavier than Apple’s tiny 11-inch, 2.38-pound Macbook Air.

3. Longevity

Sometimes you need to work all day without access to a power outlet. Laptop makers promise long battery life, but in common usage, most won’t provide more than five hours, considerably shorter than the hp 484171-001 battery average work day. Tablets with mobile operating systems are designed with battery life as a core consideration. Asus says the Transformer battery will last 9.5 hours playing 720p video. You can extend fujitsu t1010 battery this to 18 hours when connected to the Prime keyboard dock, allowing true all-day usage. Stay tuned to PCWorld’s review for full battery test results.

4. Software

If you work on the road, you probably already use lifebook t730 battery cloud-based apps like Google Docs or Office 365. There’s no need to change, as those apps work fine on the Transformer. If you don’t have network access, Asus includes Polaris Office, and other apps like fujitsu t730 battery Quickoffice HD Pro are available in the market, which allows viewing and editing of word, spreadsheet, and presentation files that are stored on the tablet itself. For the software you need to use that only runs on PC or Mac, the Transfomer includes MyDesktop software, but the market also includes many other apps which allow remote control of a PC or Mac as well.

5. Performance

It doesn’t matter what the specs are on lifebook p1610 battery paper if the actual performance of a device is slow as molasses. The Transformer has Nvidia's 1.3-GHzquad-coreTegra 3 processor, making it the first quad-core tablet. Much of the software that runs on Android hasn’t yet been fujitsu p1610 battery optimized to take advantage of this level of power, but it already performed well in PCWorld’s early tests.

Tablets are still young, and the Transformer isn’t perfect, but for what it offers, many workers could toss their laptops in exchange for a lifebook s6120 battery tablet and not look back. The Transformer promises to get PA3465U-1BRS even better as an upgrade to Andoid 4.0, Ice Cream Sandwich, is promised. Performance will also improve as more apps are optimized to take advantage of the quad-core processor. Would the Transformer meet your business needs?

Buying a used laptop?

Buying used or refurbished may not seem like the best way to get a new fpcbp152 laptop, but a real gem can be found for the right price. Since the cycle of new lap-top launches is so frequent now, pre-owned or refurb bargains are easier to find.

Who's selling?

Used laptops are available in fpcbp155ap abundance on Craigslist, Kijiji, eBay, TigerDirect, Newegg and others, plus returns and refurbished from fpcbp176 retailers, like Future Shop, Best Buy, Staples, The Source and the Apple Store.

Retailers are naturally credible, but private fpcbp159 sellers require some due diligence. Be sure to ask all the questions you need answered, no matter what.

Used or refurb?

Used laptops generally come from fpcbp175 consumers who have used them for personal reasons.

The smart ones wipe the computer's hard drive and reinstall the operating sys-tem to get it back to factory settings.

Refurbished laptops are returned to the manufacturer for fpcbp176ap any particular reason, then repaired and repackaged fpcbp200 with a limited warranty (usually one year) to be resold through a retailer (usually online).

Used laptops are the cheaper fpcbp215ap option of the two, with the most variety, but carry a higher risk.

Refurbished laptops will cost more upfront, but with new parts fpcbp263ap and a warranty that typically covers all damages.

What to look for?

In either case, you don't know what the laptop ms2239 battery has been through.

Has a previous user dropped it? Does it run slow? Does it have scratches?

The key lies in the specs - you have to ms2238 treat a used or refurb laptop purchase like you would a new one.

If the specs, size, weight and 4ur18650f-2-qc-ef3 compatibility fit with what you need, you may have a HP HSTNN-LB42 Battery winner at a good price.

What about price?

Compare the used or refurb price to the regular price.

Also, find out if you need to spend more for a new battery or bigger hard drive to gauge the overall cost.

A laptop bag that can charge gadgets

Thanks to a wave of new mobile technology, I can store my calendar, car keys, credit cards, music and notes all on my smartphone.

That kind of convergence is convenient, but my phone has an Achilles' heel. The PABAS057 battery doesn't last forever.

Enter the Powerbag, a line of PA3399U-1BAS battery-equipped shoulder bags and backpacks made by RFA Brands. It's a smart backup for when gadgets inevitably need to take naps.

I tested the Powerbag messenger bag for about a PA3465U-1BRS month, and I also spent a brief time using the backpack, which is very similar. On several instances during my tests, the bag proved useful on long trips or when traveling to conferences where I'm constantly making calls or doing e-mail.

Fact Box

Gadget Review: Powerbag Messenger

Features: Rechargeable PABAS069 battery connected to standard-size cords for iPod, BlackBerry and other gadgets

Price: $140

Our Verdict: A handy, stylish bag for gadget lovers who don't want to PA3465U-1BRS advertise their geekiness I had to overcome a couple of concerns before strapping on the Powerbag. For one, the idea of carrying a battery about the size of a deck of cards on my back in the rain is not comforting.

And this line in the Powerbag manual's lengthy "warnings" section is not exactly reassuring: "Improper use of this product may result in product damage, excess heat, toxic fumes, fire or explosion."

"Powerbag sources the highest quality cells and parts for the fpcbp50 batteries," a Ful spokesman wrote in a reply to my worried e-mail. "Our batteries are all rigorously and thoroughly tested, enduring the most abusive of treatment, still upholding Powerbag's high standard of safety."

When I considered that I keep my phone in my fpcbp64 pocket near vital organs, the fear seemed less rational. The fpcbp65 battery is stored in a zippered pocket at the bottom of the bag. I wouldn't take the bag on a whitewater canoe trip or a daylong hike under the blistering Egyptian sun, but the rain didn't faze it.

My other hangup involved the fpcbp79 annoyance of having one more thing to keep charged. I already charge my fpcbp80 smartphone, tablet, laptop, iPod, computer mouse and Bluetooth headset. Now I need to charge my shoulder bag, too?

However, I was pleasantly surprised by how long the fpcbp82 Powerbag's battery lasts. It went for more than a week at a time hp g62 battery retaining most of its charge. On a single charge, it can completely fill about two small gadgets -- a phone and iPod, for example.

The bag includes three standard-size cords, including one that works with iPhones and iPods, and another that charges BlackBerrys, Mi-Fis and many Android phones. An iPod can be tucked into one zippered pocket while a BlackBerry can go into another, each filling with juice simultaneously.

Unlike other battery-equipped bags, the fpcbp86 Powerbag does not advertise its geekiness.The Powerbag is able to charge an iPad, which is nice because many alarm clocks tailored to iPods and iPhones cannot. But the tablet's big battery sucks power more quickly, and it can't be fit fpcbp92 securely anywhere for charging on the go.

I was disappointed to learn that the Powerbag doesn't provide an fpcbp94 easy way to charge a laptop, which would have been useful for just a few more minutes of work on Wi-Fi at a coffee shop.

A standard USB port is hidden in the fpcbp101 battery pouch, so perhaps buying a USB-to-laptop charging cord would do the trick. An RFA Brands spokesman said that including a two- or three-prong outlet would require the bag to have a cooling system, which is something the company is not eager to do.

There's a conspicuous button on the front of the bag for checking the fpcbp102 battery's charge status: up to four small lights, which can be hard to see in daylight.

I kept the bag's charger tucked in a fpcbp104 pouch inside the bag. The cap and charging port located on the side of the bag snapped off a few days after I started testing it, and so from then on, I had to take the battery out and plug the cord in directly whenever I needed to refuel.

The RFA spokesman said this was only an issue with pre-production models, like the one I tested, and that it's fpcbp102ap been fixed for the bags sold in stores. The Messenger Powerbag costs about $140, same as the fpcbp105 backpack, and is sold at some big electronics and office supply stores, including Best Buy and Office Max. RFA also produces bags with bigger batteries for about $40 more.

There are several other travel bags on the market that have fpcbp160 batteries inside, including ones that can be charged by sunlight using solar panels on the exterior.

But most solar-powered bags look like an fpcbp144 accessory that would have gotten a kid beat up in school. The Powerbag, designed by Ful, is stylish as well as useful, making it a good companion for gadgetheads who don't want to advertise their geekiness