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EDITORIAL 7
Time Compression
O
ut of all the queries we receive each month, the classic favorite is: “Is this the right
time to go in for…?”Be it dual core computers, DVD drives, TFT monitors, next-gen
game consoles or broadband Internet connections, consumers are relentlessly
bamboozled by the gnawing guilt associated with getting onto a technology bandwagon
either too early or too late. Such are the questions that first movers disregard and general
consumers dread. Let’s take a little journey back in time and recount some of the most
famous technological trends and more importantly, how they’ve been adopted.
Guglielmo Marconi’s invention of the radio in 1895 (later credited to Nikola Tesla after
the Supreme Court overturned Marconi’s patent in 1943) didn’t see public acceptance until
the 1920s. It was the invention and use of vacuum tube that sparked the radio ga-ga back
then—before that, radios were too bulky and expensive to be commercially viable. The radio
phenomenon brought together entire communities, cities and nations and it changed the
way people communicated and received information. Then came the moving pictures.
Though the television was invented in 1926 by John Logie Baird, records showed that even
by 1939 there were hardly 200 television sets across the world. It took a solid two decades for
the television to become a widespread appliance. Of course, contributing to the sales of the
television were the parallel strides in broadcasting—in 1954, NBC was the first broadcasting
company to introduce coast-to-coast color broadcasts across 21 stations in the US.
Consumers today Up until then, consumers were still getting used to the idea of television programs in their
have lesser time to get very own home. There was no concept of choosing the video you wanted to see. Not until the
invention of the VHS (Vertical Helix Scan) video standard was introduced by JVC much later in
used to technology 1976. Video cassettes became all the rage—some of the fondest memories I have are that of
waves watching recordings of TV shows and movies on our National VCR back in the 80s.
The VCR flourished between the 80s and 90s. That was around the time an interesting
gadget appeared—the personal computer. The VideoCD standard was born in the early
1990s, allowing 74 minutes of MPEG-1 encoded video to be stored on an affordable CD.
Shortly afterward, the DVD disk (and along with it, the DVD video standard) was introduced
in 1997. The step up from 700 MB to 4.7 GB on a 12 cm disk was a big step indeed. But
wait—HDTV is here as well. This is happening just when we were getting used to the idea of
DVDs on our computers or home theaters. And I’ll bet the next-generation standard will be
upon as much sooner than we can anticipate.
So let’s see—it took over 30 years to transition from radio to television, from television to
video cassettes it was 20 years. Video cassettes to VCD took 15 years and VCD to DVD a mere
six years. Clearly, new technologies are approaching fast and frequently. Virtually every piece
of information around us—audio, video, pictures or text—has transitioned from the analog
world to the realm of the ones and zeroes.
This much is clear—whether you are wondering if now is the right time to buy a DVD
player or jump onto the Blu-ray bandwagon, questions will get increasingly difficult to
answer. And that’s because consumers today have lesser amounts of time to get used to
technology waves.
We will have to collectively brace ourselves for the impending torrent. Bring it on, I say!
HARDWARE this month, we present a guide to Small Linux that runs off a USB
thumb drive.
42 Top Gear
An interesting mélange of hardware 90 Symbian Gear
and gadgets—from the sleek Lenovo A plethora of Symbian applications
3000Q media center PC to the Altec are available to transform your Series
Lansing inMotion 9 to keep you 60 phone into an instant messenger,
entertained on the move, and lots remote or a music player. We look at
more... the noteworthy ones.
exact restoration in case of a hard 112 One-Stop Recreational Zone 131 Reservoir Dogs
disk failure. Turn your computer into a living room If you’ve got what it takes to be a
entertainment spot. Instead of opting part of the Mob, here’s where you
98 Chat Security to buy a media center off the shelf, get to prove it. In this remake of
With hackers turning their attention learn how to build one all by yourself the classic movie, Reservoir Dogs
to IMs, threats like viruses, spyware from this workshop. has plenty of language, plenty of
and phishing abound. Find out how mayhem and loads of attitude.
chatting can be harmful to your PC.
UNWIND 132 Trainz
HANDS ON 126 Down to the Core For railroad buffs, here’s a chance to
Ever wondered what it takes to step into a locomotive and take full
108 The Third Eye create those visually stunning control, model your dream railroad or
If you like to keep an eye on things games? Check out our listing of the simply take a ride by the countryside.
in and around your house while best ever game engines out there
you’re away, find out how you can and how they have helped create
monitor your home with the help of some of the superb games.
| Products Tested
an IP camera from this step-by-step Hardware Standalones 42
workshop. 130 Pirates of the Caribbean Lenovo 3000Q, Nokia 6130, Kingston
K-PEX 100, Altec Lansing inMotion 9,
You can sail the high seas and
110 Image Makeover pretend you’re a pirate with this
Gigabyte 945G-S2, Canon Pixma MP550,
CoolerMaster Elite 330, Level One WCS-
You don’t have to make do with remarkably senseless hacking and 2030, Pinnacle To Go, Vantec NexStar 3
bad, unclear photographs anymore. slashing game which will take you NST-360SU, Samsung Super-Write Master
Photoshop allows you to change any deep into the world of the legendary SH-S182D
annoying details and it’s really simple. pirate Jack Sparrow.
TFT Monitors 56
LG Flatron L1515S, LG Flatron L1520B,
BenQ FP51G, Samsung SyncMaster 540N,
Regulars TCL H582B, AOC LM525, ViewSonic
Town Square 16 VP720B, Samsung SyncMaster 740N,
Letters 17 AOC LM725, Zenith Z17, BenQ FP71G +S,
Asus PM17TU, TCL 7005L12, Asus PW201,
Technology Landscape 78
ViewSonic VX2235WM, ViewSonic
Dr. CHIP 104 VP920B, ViewSonic VA 1912WB, TCL
Tips and Tricks 116 983A, AOC LM925, LG Flatron L1950SQ,
Lenovo 3000Q Game Reviews 130
ViewSonic VG2021M, Samsung
…43 SyncMaster 940BW, HP L1906, VU 19W1
Last Word 148
Developer
INSTALL CREATOR
PHPMAKER
Security
TREND MICRO OFFICESCAN
KASPERSKY INTERNET SECURITY
CALLINGID
Quick Quote
OCTOBER 2006 | VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 11
GENERAL MANAGER - PUBLISHING Hyderabad
Krishna Tewari Vasudevan Iyer
viyer@infomediaindia.com
EDITOR Phone: (040) 55622211 Fax: (040) 23393488
CHIP is consumer- Marco Angelo D’Souza
Kolkata
focussed and
SENIOR COPY EDITOR A K Roy
Sharmistha Dey akroy@infomediaindia.com
Phone: (033) 2468637, 2468638 Fax: (033) 2462964
manufacturing
PHOTO EDITOR SUBSCRIPTIONS
Shirish Karale Surekha Pendse, Sarita Quadros
E-mail: customercare@infomediaindia.com
and consumers MULTIMEDIA & WEB
Hemant Charya
Tel: +91 22 2423 2804 / 05 Fax: +91 22 2430 2707
Town Square
Greetings dear Websters, information ranging from operating systems,
Over the years, we have seen several users come to application software, security, games, hardware
our website and contribute in their own little (or components—everything that you would find
large) way. Chief among the segments that power on our website’s forums. Best of all, you can
out website are the Know-How and the Town search through all of our forum’s contents over
Square sections. As it is so evident from the quality the last six months—all offline! And this is just
of the feedback and the depth of knowledge the beginning—along with Webaroo, we plan to
and understanding seen in the majority of the bring you regular updated versions of these Web
questions, our forums have always been a place packs. On our cover disks, you will also find Web
where like-minded techies can meet and exchange packs relating to other tech topics. To start using
ideas. these Web packs, head over to our website and
To further enhance the functionality and download the applications and packs from the
access of the information on our website, we are Webaroo link provided. You will also find these
glad to announce some exciting enhancements Web packs included on the cover disks bundled
that is born our of an association with an with our this issue. We look forward to hearing
interesting company called Webaroo. Founded your feedback on this. And happy offline searching!
in 2004, Webaroo pioneered an innovation that On our forums, we have seen a steady rise in
facilitates offline web searching on laptops the number of registered users—we have crossed
and mobile devices. That’s right—with it you 26,600 this month. ‘sumit_ind’ has posted an
can search and browse web content anywhere, interesting tip on opening Gmail faster—simply
anytime even without an Internet connection! use the URL m.gmail.com and you will open a
After downloading the Webaroo client, you can much lighter versions of Gmail, minus all the
access real Web pages with real search results on bells and whistles. Primarily intended for mobile
a variety of topics like travel, technology, lifestyle users, this site does not look all that good, but is
etc. Webaroo’s innovative algorithms analyze functional and extremely quick to load—great
web pages, selecting pages that are relevant, of when you’re pressed for time! ‘georgy786’ has
high quality and with broad coverage, providing also started a pretty interesting discussion on the
abundant information in small downloadable upcoming PS2 game console versus the Xbox 360.
‘Web packs’. You can either download the Webaroo If you need a spec-by-spec comparison on how
application and save the Web packs onto your these consoles stack up against one another, this is
laptop or mobile device (PDA/smart phone) for a good read. With the impending release of Sony’s
free, or purchase a range of devices with Webaroo new console, it will be interesting to see if this
bundled on it. Best of all, this content isn’t gaming device lives up to the hype surrounding its
static—it is updated on your device each time you Cell architecture. We also came across some neat
are connected to the Internet. discussions on hosting free websites and choosing
In association with Webaroo, we at CHIP are the right web hosting plans from ‘maheshmic88’
pleased to bring you a series of Web packs of and ‘tiger0412’ respectively. Here you will find
all the archived content from the Know-How plenty of real-world suggestions on web hosting.
section of our Forums, all the way from January Be sure to check out these new offerings on
2006 to October 2006! By installing the Webaroo our website and look out for many more such
application, you will be able to browse and search enhancements over the following weeks. ■
through any one of these Web packs that contain | Marco D'Souza
Letters
Dear CHIP, Hi Marco,
The reason I bought CHIP magazine this month is to I am an ardent reader of your magazine. Being
read more about the AMD-ATI deal, so that I could a computer buff, I love reading anything and
find the answers to several questions that I have such everything related to computers. And I must say your
as whether it would be wise to buy ATI chipset- team does a great job of producing amazing editorial
based motherboards instead of motherboards from content. Through it, I receive a lot of knowledge
other brands using ATO processors. However, to my about the latest technologies. The news section is a
dismay, there was nothing about the AMD-ATI deal. good melange about everything new and happening
I did, however, find the PC configuration guide really in the world of technology. I especially liked the
interesting. I will be assembling a computer shortly news snippet about how scientists have developed
and therefore it is really relevant to me. I am planning a wrist-top computer in the US. I am waiting for the
to opt for the budget configuration However, I must time it will hit the commercial market, which I’m sure
say I don’t agree with the motherboard mentioned is bound to happen in the near future as you have
in the guide. I need a motherboard with a DV port stated—“technology is getting personal” (editorial,
so that I can connect my Canon camcorder and ‘Small is Big’, August issue). I am waiting to have my
copy digital video to my computer. Can you suggest hands on it...quite literally!
a motherboard with an onboard DV port? I will be Regards,
using a socket 754 AMD Sempron CPU. Also can you Sumit Rodda
suggest a computer dealer in Lamington Road where
I can get all my computer peripherals? I am looking Dear Marco,
forward to your feedback. No, you are not dreaming or watching too many
Regards, movies (with reference to “Of Movies and Evolution”,
Mark Pinheiro Editorial, September issue). What you say makes a
lot of sense—viruses are indeed a blessing and do
Hello Mark, result in making better and stronger software. What
Thanks for writing in. Regarding your query about appears to be a problem from one angle can actually
the ATI-AMD deal, we intentionally excluded carrying prove to be beneficial from the other—clearly a case
a news item on it in our magazine. With a monthly of “a hammer shatters glass but also forges steel”.
frequency, we believe it would not make sense to The possibility of machines becoming more and
cover a subject which, by then, would have been more intelligent does exist, but I don’t believe they
dealt with extensively by every daily newspaper can gain consciousness. For example, it’s easy to build
and online technology web site. What we will be a machine that has the ability to print colors but can
doing is to monitor the fallout of this merger and it accompany the emotions that we undergo when
carry articles related to the repercussions it will we see red, white, black or orange?
have on products and technologies in their related The Perfect World is indeed a distant possibility—I
fields of platforms, processors and graphics. Do think this could be attributed to greed. Greed
look out for these in our subsequent issues. results in apathy for the next person who might
We’re glad that you liked our PC configuration be suffering. We’ve also seen numerous instances
guide. The choice of motherboard in the guide where greed has brought about immense havoc
was one that reflected a general usage scenario. and damage to humanity in the form of wars and
In your case, you have a specific need that needs strife. As the Mahatma once said, “Earth provides
to be fulfilled and might not be applicable to enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every
readers at large. Therefore, we selected a board man’s greed”. We’ve seen it happening so often
that offers a good set of general features, adequate through history—men like Hitler and Napoleon
performance and priced well. In your case, you though considered great personalities,
might want to consider a XXX motherboard, which were responsible for untold misery due to
would suit your processor and which also includes their insatiable greed. Sorry if I sound too
an onboard Firewire interface which you can use philosophical, but that’s the way of the world.
to transfer digital video from your camcorder. Regards,
Team CHIP Darshan Shinde
Umesh Dahiwalkar
OCTOBER 2006 | INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP
20 LETTERS
Letters
Dear Darshan, for home users such tips become quite boring as
Those are interesting viewpoints you’ve raised on the there are several dedicated resources to answering
subject. However, I would beg to differ with you on these questions. Also, it’s been a while since we’ve
the possibility of machines not being able to achieve seen a software shootout in CHIP. So I request you
SMS us!
its description has always been elusive. But going by PC-cillin) each month and it isn’t easy to judge the
principles of the Swarm Theory, I believe there exists a best from reviews on security applications spread
possibility of a day dawning upon us, where there will across several issues.
Since we like knowing what’s
be so many logic elements packed on a processor and One last suggestion—please provide more
on your mind and what you
think about our magazine, we so many channels of communication existing between goodies like wallpapers and movies on your Toys
now bring you another way them that it will come startlingly close to what already CD. Also, I think your choice of games makes them
to get in touch with us. Have exists within the human brain. What is the brain more suited to the younger audience. I am sorry if I
something to say about a test after all, if not a set of billions of processing elements sounded harsh in this letter, but nothing makes me
review? Liked a feature story?
Was the workshop useful? connected via a network of high-speed links? The rate happier than to read a fully satisfying issue of CHIP!
SMS us your feedback! at which technology is evolving, I believe we are going Regards,
Here’s how: to see numerous instances of billions of transistors on Amit Patnaik
processors that drive future computers and appliances.
For comments on a story,
Couple this with the proliferation of high-speed wired Hello Amit,
create the following message:
ICCO <Your comments here> and wireless networks and there is bound to be an We’re glad you liked our cover. The level of the tweaks
Example: ICCO The cover instance of distributed processing system reaching in the cover story was intentionally chosen to be basic
story was very useful such a zenith of power that a machine might just as we like our covers to be ‘approachable’. Since it is
transcend into that elusive realm of self-discovery. meant to reach out to as wide an audience as possible,
You can write as much as you
want in your comment! Sounds fantastic, I know. But I’m inclined to believe we stay away from keeping it too technical—we
that the day may be upon us sooner than we expect. do that in other sections of our magazines like
To rate a story, product Regards, Hands-on, Hardware and Applications. But thank
review, etc look out for the Marco you for the feedback anyway—you can look forward
story tag at the base of each
article and use it as follows: to interesting, in-depth articles on a variety of
ICCP <Story tag> <Rating> Dear CHIP, technologies and products that will be more suited to
Example: ICCP PWS 5 The September issue was super to say the least. your level of understanding in the forthcoming issues.
Brilliant magician on the cover too! Although I think Your request for a shootout on security
The “Story tag” is mentioned
the theme of the cover story was good, I believe applications is an interesting one. Reviewing an
at the base of every story
in the magazine and the it could have been implemented better. I thought anti-virus of firewall applications is one of the most
“Rating” is on a scale of 1 the tricks especially on speeding up Windows and complex software tests, requiring the use of special
to 5. startup programs were a bit too ‘basic’—something I test resources that are not generally available
imagine almost every normal PC user already knows outside of the anti-virus laboratories. However, we
Finally, send your messages
to 7007. about. There were no registry tweaks and no tweaks are working on the modalities on how to conduct
for Nvidia-based graphic cards either. I understand such a test in conjunction with external resources.
Cheers! that you cater to the not-so-geeky folks, but the And yes, do let us know how you liked our
tricks you provided were known to me since the time in-depth test on Intel’s Core 2 Duo processor
I was in the eighth standard. (“Crowning Conroe”, September issue). We are
Besides, these tricks are easily available on any eagerly looking forward to your feedback.
Windows web site; you should therefore have Best regards,
provided some expert tweaks on Windows like Team CHIP
70 07
n co v
er s to
ry changing registry settings to speed up your Internet
at w as a fu
CO Th
IC connection or to speed up menus and change the With hundreds of SMSes sent to us, this new feedback
more advanced settings in Window XP. system has evoked tremendous response. Going
I have also noticed feel that you include too many ahead, we’re using what you’re saying to incorporate
changes into our content. Keep it coming!
articles on Office. True, MS Office is important but
M
ost of us still remember the rotating to 160 channels although you pay the same
Doordarshan logo we saw on our amount as you are paying now. You can choose
televisions a few years ago. It’s your language from a channel which offers
been a while that we have graduated from multilingual broadcasting— you can make
Doordarshan’s six to nine pm broadcasting to a choice between Hindi and English while
24x7 cable broadcasting. Soon you will shift watching Cartoon Network as it broadcasts in
from the cable operator’s controlled program both languages.
distribution to satellite TV, where you will get Satellite TV services also offer a bundle
to choose your own channels with DVD quality of interactive games. You can shift from TV
image, CD quality sound clarity and a whole lot viewing to gaming and play games with just the
more. Many already have. remote.
The world has been familiar with satellite TV Interactivity is one of the key features
for a long time now but it took a while for it to offered by satellite TV. For example, if you are a
arrive in India. The reason was slow penetration Tata Sky subscriber, you can watch Star News,
of the television, lack of proper infrastructure Aaj Tak and NDTV India—all on a single screen in
and lack of proper technical know-how. four separate grids. All you need to do is select a
However, the situation has changed now. grid to watch a particular channel.
Currently, there are 110 million TV viewers in As Tata Sky service is a joint venture between
our country out of which 67 million subscribe to Tata and the Star network, you can view Star
cable TV and 43 million still receive terrestrial News similarly. In four grids you can watch
broadcast. Besides, now we even have better ‘Current News’, ‘Top Stories’, ‘Headlines’ and
hardware like plasma screens and dish antennas ‘Features’, all broadcast by Star News. Out of
that can digital signals. Also, today’s viewers are these four grids, the ‘Current News’ is Live and
more demanding in terms of picture and sound the others are 30 minutes behind schedule.
quality. They can differentiate between CD Tata Sky has collaborated with ESPN to offer
and DVD quality images, radio and CD quality an interactive sports experience as well. Named
audio. Considering all these factors, the launch ‘Active Sports’, this service will allow you to
of satellite TV services couldn’t have come at a watch a live match, highlights and a virtual
more perfect time. screen at the same time. You can watch the
To avail the satellite TV broadcast service, history of a tournament, statistics of a player,
you need to install a personal dish antenna and team and even choose commentators.
a set-top box, both of which are offered by the
service provider. After that adjust the antenna
to match the broadcast frequency offered by the
service provider and the entertainment content
will be streamed to your TV. The dish receives
the signal sent from the service provider and
passes it to the set-top box. The box has a
computer chip, which first decodes the signal
and displays the content on your TV screen.
In India, Tata Sky and Dish TV are two of the
service providers currently offering this service.
You can contact the service provider and place
your preferred list of channels to view them. Tata Sky’s interactive news section also lets you
check your horoscope while watching news
There are plenty of benefits—you get up
Jagdish Limbachiya
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
NEWSWIRE 23
and program synopsis. You can create a have to pay an initial amount of Rs 2,999
list of your favorite programs scheduled for the dish and the box, Rs 1,000 for
in advance to watch them when they will installation and activation of the service
be broadcast. and an additional Rs 200 for subscription
If you get tired of surfing the entire to one TV set. If you want to add more
gamut of channels, you can even create sets, then you need to pay another Rs 100.
a customized surf list of the channels Monthly charges are Rs 200 for which
you watch most. This way you can create you need to buy a prepaid card similar to
multiple customized surf lists and store a mobile prepaid card. Scratch it, call the
them with different names. For example, help desk number, spell out the 16 digit
you can create a surf list by selecting only number and get your account refilled. If
the sports channel and name it ‘Sports’. you want to check you account balance,
Dish TV lets you download games and Similarly, you can select only the English you can even do that on your TV, where
transfer them to the receiver through USB
movie channels and create another list you will get a complete and detailed
On the other hand, Dish TV offers with the name ‘English movies’. account information. Besides, for any sort
services like storing TV programs on your You can enjoy the “Movie on Demand” of technical problems, you can call the
external hard disk which you connect to service offered by the available satellite helpdesk number and get account related
the receiver. Dish TV offers digital video TV providers. To watch a movie of your information or report problems.
recording service allowing you to extract choice, you need to check the list of If you want to subscribe to Dish TV’s
images, music and videos from the TV current movies that are available with service then you have the option of
programs and store on the hard disk. You selecting from their bouquet of packages
can also pause live TV and watch your ranging from Rs 3,090 to Rs 3,490. Once
favorite programs at your own leisure. You the service is activated, you can customize
can record programs to a maximum of six the charges for every month by selecting
channels simultaneously. The channels the channels. For example, if you choose
can be either six free channels or three to view only the news channel, you
free and three pay channels. To record, can do that at a monthly cost of Rs 60.
you need to specify the date and time Alternatively, if you want to watch only
of your desired program to the Digital movies, you need to pay only Rs 55—
Video Recorder (part of the receiver). On channels such as Zee Premier, Zee Action
the specified date and time, the recorder and Zee Classic will be included only.
automatically will start recording all the For monthly payments, you can choose
desired programs. Tata Sky service lets you create a favorite between sending an SMS and paying by
channel list comprising 20 channels
Satellite TV is mostly about credit card. If you want, you can even pay
convenience. It offers you a program guide your service provider and then call and by cash, cheque or money order.
for all the channels you have chosen, one order them, stating the movie name and Satellite TV is slowly picking up in
week in advance. If you are a Satellite TV your preferred time. You have to pay an India. While it offers you convenience,
user, you get to know about the program addition amount for this service. The comfort and choice of what you want to
schedules, which comprise the program amount varies between providers. For watch, it is too early to tell whether it will
name, program channel, date, day, time example, Dish TV charges you Rs 40 for be everybody’s cup of tea. The primary
Hindi movies and Rs 50 for English movies. challenge it may face is the counter move
from cable operators—this is because any
Subscription viewer would be thrilled at being able
To subscribe to Satellite TV, you need to to avail of the service with its additional
call the service provider. On receiving benefits and still pay the same amount
your request, they will send their trained they’d been paying their cable operators.
technicians to install the dish antenna Also, the initial installation cost may still
and the set-top-box at your place. If you be very high for a lot of users. We have
are looking for a connection for multiple yet to see how service providers are going
TV sets, you will need multiple set-top- to face these challenges. As of now it is
boxes—one for each set. for us to wait and watch how the flotilla
The cost for installation may be more of unique services offered bring about a
You can order a movie of your choice to than what you are paying for cable TV. change in the viewing experience.
broadcast at your specified time
To subscribe to Tata Sky’s service, you | Pradosh Mitra
SMS us! Poll: Do you play games on a console? (See Readers’ Letters for details)
26 NEWSWIRE
A malware greeting
alternative materials like rice straw and
chicken feathers
12 +
issues
Subscribe to Cricinfo Magazine today and get a complimentary copy of The Year in Cricket, a specially
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30 NEWSWIRE
M
cAfee has been providing security worldwide. The timeline when a vulnerability
solutions in the country for many is exposed, to the point when it is exploited
years now and its products have has started shrinking. A signature file could
pervaded so many desktops, workstations and not be generated fast enough if an attack was,
servers that I really do not need to explain what say, a 3-minute one. By the time any vendor
they are into. But even though you may be creates an antidote it will be an hour since the
aware of the fact that McAfee is the company attack and there will probably be ten versions
that “sells anti-virus software” for your desktop of it. This was when AV was very reactive
or workstation, it does not just stop at that. in nature. The only way to solve this was to
| Kartik Shahani
Director Sales, India & SAARC Kartik Shahani (Director Sales, India & SAARC) block the ‘root’ and this was done with IPS. IPS
explained how the thought process of a (Intrusion Prevention System) has become a
company that is totally focused on providing very general term today but we were the first
AV solutions has evolved over the years as ones to come up this system. We did that using
intrusions have become more sophisticated. two companies—Introvert and Entercept. The
Total Protection Mr Shahani stressed on these changes that former came up with IPS technology on the
is not a suite of have helped make what McAfee is today. network side. But that was not good enough
because attacks like an SQL injection, which will
products. It is a Virus Growth Trend look valid when you go through the network.
single product KS: Initially there was an exploratory phase It was required to have a ‘host-based’ intrusion
wherein viruses were pure nuisance value. This prevention also and Entercept provided this.
moved on to create real trouble, usually done Now we have a host-based and a network-
by sending mass mails. Now it has taken a based IPS.
serious turn with financial gain as the objective. IPS actually blocks the vulnerability. We took
Anti-phishing, spyware, adware are all made the IPS technology and moved it into the AV
for financial gain. There are more instances of making it proactive. The minute a vulnerability
tools like key loggers that try to gain sensitive is blocked then any virus variants will not affect
information. There are many more avenues the machine. In December 2005, we detected
to attack because of the kind of devices, vulnerability for the 32-Gen virus, it was
which have changed. The number of devices patched and early this year the MyWife virus
connecting to a network has increased. This struck. Machines installed with our IPS-based
results in innovative forms of attacks targeted AV products were the only ones that were
at these devices (access points). not affected. The technology of signatures
Earlier, an attack was effective only when was also implemented in IPS because it is the
involved some sort of interaction. Today, fastest way to removing any infections in files
intrusions do not require any interaction at that are to be scanned. This cross-pollination
all. Blended attacks—where a Trojan and bot of technologies has improved the AV’s
is combined—have increased steadily. These throughput.
might not even activate on the PC immediately.
This has been the scene on the desktop front. Enforcing Policies
It might gradually take on a similar pattern for KS: McAfee then acquired a vulnerability
the mobile users also. management and analysis company called
Foundstone. The next thing that we did
The Proactive Approach after making Foundstone our vulnerability
KS: We found that virus attacks were getting management tool, was introduce the McAfee
faster in terms of its implementation Policy Enforcer (MPE). This is an “end point
protection” product. This is meant for users NAC (Network Access Control). The problem was
who plug-in to an office network. This is very that it required recognition on a hardware level.
essential if you have a large number of visitors If you had a router from 3Com and a switch McAfee is
(working on a contract basis) logging into from Cisco—it would not work. 3Com router
your network. You cannot allow them to log did not support the solution. You needed to not looking at
in if their machines do not comply with the have hardware that supported Cisco’s solution detection only.
organization’s security policies. But they have for trusted networks. Trusted networks would
to have access to network so that they can only work on Catalyst switches over 6500-series.
We are looking at
do the work the organization has employed This meant that customers who liked the idea solutions
them to do. The system is first checked to of a trusted network were confronted with
see if it complies with the requirements of a huge expense because of the prospect of a
the organization. If it does not, it goes into a complete hardware upgrade. We came up with
“quarantine” mode. Only after it is completely a software-only solution called NAC—which is
patched up it is allowed out of quarantine. agnostic to whatever switch/router is used in a
network. It can be implemented at a fraction of
Simplified Administration the cost that would otherwise have to be spent
KS: SiteAdvisor (protects your browser from in the scenarios mentioned above. You can have
spyware and phishing sites) is integrated with a mixed network environment and NAC will still
the rest of our products. If you have it on a work well along with MPE.
gateway then you - as a corporate - can decide
that employees should not access any file/site A single product
that is assigned as “red”. A system like this can KS: We noticed a lot of customers had one
be easily enforced at the gateway with the help grouse – every time they approached us there
of a network-wide policy. The policy template is would be one more product to buy and install.
provided by PreventSys (a risk and compliance So if you need an anti-virus you would install
management company McAfee acquired an AV and if it was spyware then you would
recently). This is not domain-based or IP-based, have to install anti-spyware. The list could go
therefore it becomes easier to administer. on—when would it end? At the end of all this
Let’s take an example of a company that the PC will full of these “anti-solutions”, eating
needs to adhere to certain security guidelines up system resources leaving the user with no
in order to achieve an objective. The rules space to run other applications. This was a
that need to be followed are set by using a cause for concern.
‘compliance template’ – made with policy- We released Total Protection (in April this
enforcing and management software like year)—one agent which included anti-virus/
Preventsys or Foundstone. The products are able malware/spyware/adware/phishing, etc. Total
to audit systems constantly so as to make sure Protection is not a suite of products —it is a
that the desktops continue being compliant to single product. It collectively uses 40 percent
the template that was created. If a user/desktop less resources than all the separate products
does not comply to a parameter in the policy, installed on a system. If you were to buy any
then a report will be generated stating the McAfee product it would communicate with
vulnerability and the reason for the lapse. ePO (ePolicy Orchestrator). Every technology
McAfee is not only looking at detection only. that we procure is pushed into this reporting
We are looking at providing solutions that have module. This is better than having different
prevention attached to it – IPS does exactly that. consoles for the gateway, host, signatures, etc.
Effectively, you have a single “agent”. This
means to keep your system secure all you need
A trusted network solution to do is download a single “DAT” file to update
KS: Cisco has been stressing on the “trusted the firewall, AV, anti-spyware, etc.
networks” concept for a while now. It is about | Ashutosh Desai
Technology in
Dign Good design is something
that has timeless appeal,
striking a resonant chord
not just in designers, but with
consumers at large. We take a
look at how creative folks are
increasingly using technology to
better their art
Coverstory
Jagdish Limbachiya
A
rt and science are generally considered diametrically
opposite on the intellectual plane. Art is generally
associated with aesthetics whereas science or technology
is generally associated with gadgets and other physical
implementation. But today the difference can be easily spotted
in our day-to-day lives. According to the dictionary, one of the
definitions of art is, “A nonscientific branch of learning; one of the
liberal arts”. This clearly states that art and science have always
been considered to be completely different disciplines. However,
things are changing—with technology being an increasingly
integral part of our daily lives, the artistic caliber behind the
products we use today are becoming as important as the
technology that drives them—a kind of a Yin and Yang between
two hitherto disparate worlds. Besides technically advanced
products incorporating greater amounts of design in them, we can
also see several examples of technology being used in the design
process itself—and to good effect.
Take the case of the cellular phone—there was a time when
the most important characteristic of a mobile device was the
audio quality and the strength of the signal. Less than 10 years
ago, cellular phones were sold on the basis of signal quality and
features. Today, while these parameters are still of importance,
there is another factor that has worked its way into the buying
process—design and ergonomics. Two closely related fields,
they have come to the fore solely because technology has
moved from the science labs to the end user. Most consumers
today take performance and technical features as a given; it is
the overall design and usability of products that swing most
buying decisions. Look around, you will chance upon several
such examples where design often takes precedence over
technology. Even in the automotive industry, car design is perhaps
as important a selling point as the power of the engine or the
fuel efficiency. This trend shows no sign of abating—the more
technology reaches the masses, the greater will be the need for
products to be designed to appeal to humans.
Coupled with the strides in desktop computing technology,
the act of designing products has also undergone a drastic
change. Falling prices and easy availability of hardware and
software have resulted in computers now being used at every
stage of the design process. Best of all, you needn’t own a design
firm to be able to access these technologies—many of them are
commercially viable even for smaller enterprises. The playing
field has certainly been leveled.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular disciplines of art
and delve into how technology is making a difference in bettering
work of the artists in these fields.
Have you ever experienced the thrill of cars designed with aesthetics in mind was The engine was positioned from the rear
driving a fast car? Ever gone out on a long the Benz Velo. Its body was designed with to the front and the concept of a bonnet
drive after you are stressed out due to distinct curves—a definite deviation from came into the picture.
work? Or did you ever whistle when you the angular construction characteristics The cars during the World War period
saw a sports car whiz by? There are a myriad of other cars at the time. Leather was a used a design where all parts of the
of emotions that come to the fore while prevalent medium for designing seats. automobile were neatly incorporated into
driving or beholding a piece of automotive Aesthetics was now beginning to take equal the body chassis. Their body designs did not
art. We explore the birth of such exotic cars. footing as functionality. change much in this era but changes to the
Automobile design is an applied art Fast forward a few years and we saw internal combustion engines made them
dedicated to the design of transport the brass age in car design. This age more powerful. Cars of this era looked more
vehicles like cars, bikes, trucks, buses, basically saw cars whose radiators, lights or less like boxes. But during the same era
etc. People used to travel in carriages and wheels were designed using this the automobile design industry witnessed
that were pulled by horses as a mode alloy. This design gained popularity as a revolution with the Volkswagen Beetle
of transportation before automobiles it was more functional than iron (it was car. This was the first car that had a
were invented. Ever since the Internal more resistant to corrosion). Besides, curved shaped body as it broke away from
Combustion Engine was invented in 1806, brass has a close resemblance to gold but conventional car designs. The curves helped
Automotive
design
the concept of self-powered carriages is fractionally priced. These improved its aesthetics; this concept is being used in
was only a dream. Karl Benz constructed aesthetics tickled the fancy of buyers of many modern day cars. It was also speedy
an automobile powered by the Otto that era. The Ford Model T, awarded the and had plenty of features for its size at a
gasoline engine in Germany in 1885; he most exemplary car design of the century, great price point.
was later credited with the invention of belonged to this era. Also, the Model The post-war period saw the making
the modern automobile. T was the first American car that was of cars that emphasized an aerodynamic
In the early days, cars were generally made up of vanadium steel. Vanadium body design. Designers also started to
a conversion of a horse carriage and even steel had three times the strength of experiment with different shapes and
looked like one; the only difference was the alloys used by other American car sizes while designing a car. The mini
an internal combustion engine mounted manufacturers. Best of all, even though car concept of the Beetle also gained
on the rear end of the carriage replaced these cars used vanadium steel and brass popularity leading to compact cars like
the horses. This was the veteran era of fittings, they were affordable for the the Mini Cooper and the Fiat 500. The 60s
automobiles. Cars designed during the masses. It was during this time that Henry saw a race for raw power with cars like the
1890s to the early 1900s belonged to this Ford introduced the assembly line concept Ford Mustang and the Chevrolet Camaro.
era. These vehicles were designed more in automobiles, forever changing the way During the time, many European car
with functionality in mind rather than in which cars were built and cutting down manufacturers blended the aesthetics and
aesthetics. One of the first production chassis assembly time by a factor of ten. performance of a car into one body—
especially the Jaguars and the Ferraris. perspective sketches of a car. Devices like a other CAM/CAE software and with the
Today most cars are manufactured Wacom tablet or other such input devices help of specialized equipment where
for utilitarian purposes but with an are often used to draw this 2D perspective. a prototype model of the same can be
accent on the design as well. Body styles This facilitates easy digitization of created at any scale required. High-end
have changed in the modern era. Four sketches. The advantage of working peripherals like 3D scanners are capable
types—the hatchback, sedan, minivan, and in the digital ream are manifold—it of converting live models into 3D meshes
sport utility vehicle—dominate today’s allows designers to incorporate changes that can be imported into 3D application
market and are relatively recent concepts. to images in real time, colors can software. This saves plenty of time during
All originally emphasized practicality but be auditioned on images and many the prototype creation process. According
have now mutated into vehicles that are parameters can be changed. Thus subtle to Dilip Chabbria, a typical headlamp
styled across the various segments with modifications to the sketch can be of a car typically has 35 components.
the consumer in mind. visualized in a very short time allowing the Through the use of computers, the
A modern-day car is not only designed designer to better visualize the product process from the ideation stage to CAD
for great aesthetics but also features safety, and come up with prototypes quicker. stage and then to the rapid prototyping
fuel economy and most importantly the The drawing is taken to the third route is completed in about 15 days as
audience or purpose the car will be used dimension where a 3D surface model is opposed to two months without the use
| Dilip Chabbria
Founder, DC Design
Technology
usage has granted
designers more time
to concentrate on
the actual design
rather than its
implementation
for. Technology has certainly played a created to get a basic idea of how the car of technology. “Over the last seven years,
significant role in the development of these will look like. If any changes in design are all our projects have been facilitated by
cars—the ability to create more products required, a designer falls back to the pen computers. To give you an example, a
and alternatives with a given time, cost and paper technique for optimization, breakthrough milestone was the Aston
and available resources. Let’s take a peek at sensitivity and customization. Various 3D Martin project—the design was not just
how technology is used in the design of a modeling software like 3D Studio Max, in CAS form (Computer Aided Styling),
modern-day car. Maya, Cinema4D, LightWave, etc are used but our USP was the fact that we could
A car design artist first receives a brief of for creating the model. Specialized software integrate the hand crafting steel process
what a target audience requires in the car. like Alias Auto Studio is also used for car- with the digital data, ensuring very
This would include the purpose of the car, specific 3D modeling and design. Customers precise and high quality surfaces through
the price, application, driving conditions, can preview the model design with a very our in-house CMM (Computer Measuring
etc. Then a car design artist first creates a high level of detail, made possible by the Machine) which works in 3D,” said he.
2D design on paper to create a skeletal idea excellent capabilities of these modeling The use of computers not only cuts
of how the vehicle would look. This stage software. Almost all of the automotive down the number of iterations needed,
includes several iterations and alternates. projects today are accomplished using but evaluation of quality also no longer
2D design software like Corel Painter or this methodology. remains a subjective issue since it is
Adobe Photoshop are also used to create 2D The 3D model can be imported using digitally measured.
In his book, The World is Flat, Thomas to be modified on paper—a massively virtually evaluate how every material used
Friedman clearly enunciates how different time-consuming process. After finishing enhances the design in its totality. Best of
the world is today from what it was the drawings, architects hand delivered all, this happens before a single brick is laid.
20 years ago. Shorter distances, easy the blueprints to structural and service A panoply of software ranging from
accessibility and new discoveries—it’s a consultants who suggested the requisite 3DS MAX, Softimage, 3DS Viz, Photoshop,
world which has place for the fastest, the changes, all of which would, once again, be Premiere, Form Z, Sketchup, Autocad, etc
most competent and the most cost- modified by hand. Clients were required to enable architects to explore every facet
effective—where web-enabled workflow place their complete faith in the architect’s of their designs. 3D animation software
tools enable utilization of the best talent vision—the actual concept remained enables them to walk through their designed
available regardless of where you are. imperceptible to them as they couldn’t look structures, even climb up to the roof, take a
Modern architecture is not an exception at anything tangible like the appearance of stroll around the rooms, perceive how much
to Friedman’s theory—computers have the whole structure, indoor spaces, lighting, light penetrates through the windows—a
indeed changed the face of architecture. It color and so on. There was no choice but virtual look and feel. Executing designs after
is possible to visualize and execute projects to wait until the construction finished. But a first-hand 3D experience is quicker; designs
faster than one could imagine years ago. by then, it was too late to reminisce about can be exchanged with consultants over
We spoke to architect Sanjay Puri, who how other materials could have imparted a e-mail, inputs shared, changes implemented
1 2 3
Architecture
& 4
interiors
recounted work methods 14 years ago. different feel to the construction. That was and approved for construction over the
Every morning began with assembling not all; architects would often have to take Internet itself. Obviously, this results in
the paraphernalia for the drawings first a jaunt to the site and ensure the structure huge saving in time and effort. Software
before getting down to the task of actually is built exactly as they had envisioned. Many not only enables successful translation of
drawing. Cutting sheets of “gateway” a times, it became imperative for them to complicated designs into actual structures
tracing paper, sharpening pencils, cleaning make on-site modifications because the but also offers the scope to explore new and
T-squares and Set-squares would be construction was not in tandem with what innovative designs.
followed by aligning the paper before they had in mind. The Bombay Art Society project
architects launched into their day’s work With the advent of computers and the (construction not yet started) demanded
of drawing. The final drawings would then developments in hardware and software, a complex comprising art galleries, an
be inked with the requisite pens to achieve life drastically changed for architects. auditorium, cafeteria and an office area
the desired thickness of the lines, which Application of specialized software has on a tiny plot of land. The mandate was to
corresponded to the types of architectural rendered it easy for them to visualize spaces conform to the ‘art’ theme while making
drawings needed. in and out, gauge the relationship between optimum use of the little space before
Drawing on paper was a laborious spaces, experiment with materials, colors, venturing on the designs. Architect Sanjay
task indeed. Whenever there was a need textures and study the effects of both Puri elucidated, “While creating a sculptural
to change the designs, the drawings had natural and artificial lighting. It is possible to form for the building (refer to pictures 1&2),
we wanted to achieve a series of fluid spaces to urge fashionistas to stop over and look the feel-good factor and intensify their
for the volumes to be perceived larger around. Four basic elements—lowered shopping experience. This tap-device is
and also to create fluidity that remains ceilings, gradated floor shades, skewed made of tactile material and projected on a
uninterrupted within. Without 3D Max and pedestals and curved columns—combine to table-like surface, allowing you to touch the
an array of advanced software, it would guide the visitors to the various sections of different aspects on the river. The backdrop
take way too long to build physical models the store, establishing a unique identity for of the river has been designed in Maya and
and modify them to achieve the desired each section. authored on Flash.
results. Thanks to technology, we were able The anatomy of the curved multi-brand Choksee, while illustrating another
to finalize the design within a month”. display section (see pictures 5&6) was example of retail value-addition spoke
The Eta Hotel project in Dubai (see conceptualized in the form of 3D drawings of the history wall that added another
pictures 3&4) looks like a structure straight on CAD software. According to Kapil, since dimension to the interiors of the Levis
out of a 3D movie—designed in 3D, the 3D surfaces were part and parcel of the Store in Bangalore. This wall integrates
abstract folded concrete skin of the building design, 3D plywood moulds were created an electronic book, which lets customers
punctuated by a series of openings gives by hand-tracing the drawings onto chunks interact by browsing through the history
it a way-out-the-ordinary appearance. of fiber-board before getting them hand of the brand. Programmed in Flash, such
However, this super-futuristic look has a sculpted by local craftsmen. This is perhaps an interactive design builds a relationship
5
| Sanjay Puri
Architect
6
Exploring
new ideas and
creating unique
and complicated
designs is easy now
thanks to advanced
software
purpose—these openings allow natural light the most unique example of transforming between the customer and the brand that
into the hotel room balconies, creating a technology into an art form. few other design elements can achieve.
skin that reduces heat absorption from the Technology is being extensively used But this is just the present; next-
outside while in the night it glimmers like a in designs to impart the much-needed generation architecture could very well be
mammoth lamp. Experimenting with such value addition to the retail segment. The functional systems swaying with the wind
a unique design concept couldn’t have been Xylus store (Mumbai), designed by Lotus and altering their shapes—this is the vision
possible without advanced software. Design Services is an example of this of a new breed of architects who believe
Talking about interior architecture, trend—shoppers walking into the store that “responsive structures” is the future
Thanks, a luxury retail space designed will ineluctably have to take a look at of architecture. These structures will
by architects Kapil Gupta and Chris ‘river of time’ flowing by—their curiosity ascertain outdoor weather conditions such
Lee completely redefines the shopping piqued already! Being a watch store, the as cloudy weather, wind mood swings,
experience. A hotbed of the biggest names philosophical perception of time has climbs or drops in temperature, indoor
in fashion and catering to the society’s bon been used to generate interesting trivia conditions like a sudden throng of visitors
ton, Thanks houses drop-dead designer on it. Ankur Choksee of Lotus Design and calibrate the environments while
ensembles and six exclusive designer brand Services shed light on how they integrated making adjustments in their forms and
outlets. It was only natural for it to sport an interactive devices (in this case, the shapes. The concept known as adaptive
unusual garb that would be inviting enough river of time) to impart customers with construction will bring about a fantastic
era in architecture, comprising functional modeling techniques. This resulted in an technological tools like design and inventory
and self-changing robot-like structures. obvious lack of time for a designer to think management application along with
The Office of Robotic Architectural about the aesthetic value of their products, specialized hardware like Crease Recovery
Media and the Bureau for Responsive as much of the effort was being channeled Testers (to check how fast a textile can
Architecture employs the concept of into its execution. recover from creasing) and Launderometer
tensegrity in their designs to increase The case is different today. With (to check how fast a textile can recover
robustness, minimize mass, reduce technology-driven tools, software from stains).
embedded energy, transportation and applications and even hardware that It all starts from creating a pattern for
construction costs while also stepping up impart digital perfection to the process of a particular garment. Next in priority is to
their capabilities to respond to manifold measurement and structure, designers are design the blocks for the pattern—popularly
environmental conditions. now able to concentrate more on the design known as slopers. Using present-day tools,
So while we reap the benefits other than bother with the nitty-gritties of slopers can be designed by specialized
of technology to return to natural maintaining physically accurate dimensions CAD-based applications such as Apparel
environments and herald the era of as digital tools take care of this. This has CAD and ModaCAD. These applications
adaptive architecture, we might soon have also translated into quicker execution of the feature vast libraries from which users
a Friedman-Part II on our desks… design, allowing more space for designers can select numerous types of slopers and
Fashion
&
jewelry
Fashion and jewelry to impart their own creativity and signature further tweak these to their individual
Fashion and jewelry design are two domains style into their creations. Even the execution requirements. These are primarily library-
that are indelibly based on aesthetic sense. time has drastically fallen. based 2D applications. This saves time and
Along with the inherent artistic sense, both In the field of fashion, a designer enables designers to create technically
these domains demand quality in execution needs to monitor myriad factors starting accurate designs, while allowing for plenty
in order to make the products stand out from conceptualizing a design, sketching of creative leeway to tread new ground and
in the crowd. Although art plays a vital and creating illustrations, choosing explore entirely new patterns.
role in designing a fashionable dress or the right fabrics, selecting colors, Once the outfit is designed, the software
jewelry, a designer stills needs to use several constructing patterns, all the way to even allows you to drape it on to a virtual
domain-specific technicalities—in fashion, the final creation of the garment. This model, animate the model and find out how
measurements of different body parts and includes plenty of allied factors like quality it will actually appear, how the fabric will fall
cloth, while for jewelry it requires angles control for measurements, production and react to movements. Applications like
and curves of a gold pendant and the like. planning, production control and design OptiTex 3D Runway are able to realistically
Years ago, these measurements were management. If managed singularly, this simulate cloth movement in accordance
executed manually. Designers were required would rob a designer of quality time—time with the physical movement of a model.
to spend enormous amounts of time to that could otherwise be used to create. To Depending upon the texture and the weave
create their works of art using traditional prevent this, fashion designers now use of the cloth, the garment will respond in a
physically accurate manner—for example, and innovation. To address echnical issues designer can experiment with a number of
heavy woolen cloth will fall differently underlying jewelry design like dimension options before arriving at a desired result.”
compared to lighter chiffon materials. This of stones, designs of filigree work, clamps To see a life-like replica of a product,
application even helps in creating a product and clasps, there are applications which 3D application like Matrix is used. This
documentation sheet (PDS). While creating you can mold and enhance your designs. application can help create a virtual model
the PDS, you can choose any model from the Applications like Digital Goldsmith are of an ornament, where it is possible to
application’s model library and drape your primarily used to create motifs and 2D view it from any angle during the creation
designed pattern or you can create models designs to understand how an ornament process—much like what a goldsmith
of your own required specification and body would appear once it is completely would while crafting an ornament. The
type, depending upon the garment being designed. This application is also library application will show you a ‘profile ready’
designed. Such applications even have driven—designers can select a motif from product, allowing it to be viewed across a
the option of changing the texture of the the library and then infinitely customize it cross section. This view helps understand
textile, apply lights on the textile to view according to their needs. Characteristics like the thickness of the metal, the roughness
whether it will have a glossy or matte finish color, types of precious stone and variations at the edges or corners, the desired angles
and more importantly have the model pose can all be modified and auditioned before of the embellishments in the product.
in various positions to perceive how the the design is finalized. This application also Allowing designs to be quickly created, the
| Dolly Minawala
Head of Design,
Indian Institute of Design
Computer tools
supplement our
creative vision by
speeding up the
process of creating
technically correct
products
designed dress will fit their potential buyers. allows the creation of entire sets of jewelry application can accept pre-defined technical
Fashion designing is not just about the product lines consisting of pendants, specifications of the product and go on
attire—it is also about the accessories. 3D earrings, bangles, rings and so on. Apart to create that product in an automated
applications like ‘Poser’ assist to a great from using the motif library, custom motifs routine mode. Once done, designers can
extent with its inbuilt library of props can also be created. further tweak and tune the ornament,
and options to change a model’s look. For Dolly Minawalla, head of design at making intricate or large changes.
example, if you want to dress your model the Indian Institute of Design states, “2D 3D applications such as these can
in retro style, it is possible to team this up applications are generally used to create a also generate compatible files that work
with a correspondingly retro hair style, catalog for presentation purposes. It saves directly with the hardware used to create
retro bags, retro hats and whatever else you time with its ability to help generate a the mould. Designers generally use Rebo
might want to impart to the scene—even number of complete product lines in a short 540—a specific hardware for creating the
retro cars and props! With such applications, time span”. She added, “Technology is used mould from their design. Rebo 540 is akin
you can even adjust the movement of the in this domain to enhance the design skills. It to a CNC lathe machine, consisting of a
models on a virtual ramp, including the is used to create designs that are technically cutter that moves across four axes: X for
hand sway, hip sashaying, footsteps, etc. accurate. The applications used take care length, Y for height, Z for depth and A
Similar to fashion, jewelry design is another of issues like dimensions, comfort and for rotary. The design that you create in
field that banks heavily on individuality edge softness. They are also used so that a Matrix can be saved as Rebo-compatible
file. After loading the file, the machine teaching design, we had a freewheeling produce less than 15 good designers a year;
reads the information and accordingly chat with G V Sreekumar, who teaches so there is clearly a problem.
uses its cutter to cut a piece of wax to at the Industrial Design Center (IDC) in At IDC, we follow a different
create an exact model of the design. This Mumbai. IDC is an institution that offers methodology as compared to other
saves enormous amount of time while post-graduate courses in the fields of institutes when teaching the art of design.
auditioning different designs for jewelry industrial design and visual communication. We primarily concentrate on and hone in
product lines. In this market, where The center also interacts with industries to the thinking abilities of the designer.
individuality and quality spell the success and other institutions for the promotion We do not really teach software. Since we
or failure of a product, tools such as and awareness of design through seminars, offer post-graduation courses, most of the
these enable craftsmen to translate their short-term courses and workshops. students who enroll with us have already
skills into actual products faster than had a background in application software
they ever could before. While the core of CHIP: How best can a student learn the art and have fairly advanced knowledge of
human creativity can never be replaced of design? application software.
by machines, these applications certainly GV: Students who eventually select However, in the hands of a designer
help in realizing dreams quicker and with the field of design generally display the the computer only comes in much later.
greater precision. inclination at an early age. This generally A computer is actually a very dangerous
Design
education
Academia takes place in the form of a hobby like tool in a person’s hands when used to
In the field of design, perhaps the most sketching, sculpting or other such creative achieve hurried results. In India, computer
important aspect is the training. Be it areas. However, before students even institutes teach applications like 3DS Max,
automotive design, architecture, fashion enter a training institute, there is often a Photoshop or Illustrator, after which they
or any of the hundreds of fields where problem with the guidance itself—even hand out a diploma that certifies a student
design manifests, it is the formative years after a person completes his higher as a designer. This is a rather serious issue
of learning the trade where individual secondary school, there are times when as they teach nothing about the field of
styles and skills begin to emerge, and these parental influence diverts their choice design itself. Students, on the other hand,
culminate into the fantastic products of toward ‘conventionally popular’ careers like assume that since they know Photoshop,
design that we see all around us. Or does it? medicine, engineering and finance. Art and they automatically become designers. Most
Teaching design is an art in itself. From design is still not considered a commercially often, this is never the case. At the end of
the myriad variety of design academies all viable option. The significant cause of the day, the quality of design across the
over the country, there is apparently no this is the lack of awareness about the country plummets.
dearth of design training institutes. Sadly, stream. This is why India produces very few At IDC, the initial six months of the first
the vast majority of these institutes do a designers—there are just two reputable semester consist purely of foundations.
paltry job of breeding good designers. To design institutes here in India equipped Here, the students are taught the very
gain insights into the sensitive subject of to arm a person for the world stage. We basics of design like color theory and
the underlying principles of art. At this the assembly line, and most of the time the pre-Mac and the pre-PC era. This was a time
point, there is very little dependence on designer was only the director of workflow. when designers used to grab a pencil and
computing tools. Of course, there are Therefore, the final output would be largely paper and sit down to ideate. This imparted
parallel courses that use computers but influenced on the caliber of the people a significantly higher level of quality to the
computers do not form the core of the working on the project. overall output. Sadly, this is missing today.
instruction process. So long as the thought For example, in the field of print and That’s because designers immediately start
process behind the design process is clear, publishing, if I were designing a magazine’s working on a computer the moment they
the computer only becomes a tool just cover, I would have had to instruct the receive an assignment. Worst still, many
like any other—it merely facilitates the person responsible for color corrections over designers go to the extent of allowing
creation of good design. Unfortunately, several iterations before the final output the computer to make the decisions
most students have a preconceived notion was to my satisfaction. This process would for them—by allowing applications to
where computers, the Internet and Google invariably stretch across several days. With select pre-defined options (fonts, grids,
can solve all of their problems. A lot of our the advent of Photoshop, I can do this under alignments, color schemes, materials, etc).
efforts involve debunking these fallacies an hour. The designer now has control of Very little of the designer’s input shows up
and instiling a philosophy of design. Many the complete end-to-end process of design. in the final output.
of my students appear disappointed when, With the removal of the intermediate stages Just as good designers exercise the
| G V Sreekumar
Associate Professor, IDC
Designers give so
much importance
to computers that
they often do not
spend enough time
to THINK over a
design problem
for a particular assignment, I tell them that involving other people, work moves faster. right to choose the tools before them—be
computers are not allowed! Today, the number of people involved in the it a paintbrush, a marker, a pencil or a
design process is far lesser. charcoal stick—a computer should be
CHIP: How has computing translated into viewed as but another tool. Other than
time savings and has this impacted good CHIP: Can technology hamper creativity? falling into the trap of using pre-created
design? GV: As I mentioned before—the computer wizard-driven steps that result in
GV: The biggest advantage with computers can be a dangerous tool in the hands of a packaged designs devoid of inspiration
and related technologies in the field of poor designer. For example, when given a and creativity, artists should be able to
design is the amount of control it lends to theme, he would first type the topic name call the shots and use the tools they deem
the designer. With the final output in mind, in Google, download a load of information appropriate. Visceral sensitivity toward
the designer now has complete reign over and photographs on the subject, create a design is something that no computer can
how a particular project can pan out. In cover in a couple of hours and hand it over. impart to a prospective designer—it needs
the pre-computing era, there were several Earlier, there was a process involving the to be born out of experience with design
waypoints in the process of design where creation of a scribble along with several fundamentals and methodologies that
the designer had little or no control over iterations of ideas—the actual design of the train him to think and create.
the influence on the output of his or her cover was executed only after the ideation | Kunal Rupera, Sharmistha Dey,
work. There generally were other people in process was complete. This was in the Pradosh Mitra and Marco D’Souza
Top Gear
Jagdish Limbachiya
Media Center PC
Lenovo 3000Q
Specifications: Processor: Intel Pentium 4 640 3.2
GHz, Chipset: Intel 945G, Memory: 512 MB DDR2
533 MHz, Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar 160
GB, Optical drive: 16X DVD combo, Graphics: Nvidia
GeForce 6200 TC, Display: 20-inch widescreen TFT,
OS: Windows XP Home SP2, Misc: webcam, 2.0
speakers, TV Tuner, 8-format card reader
Price Rs 88,990
Contact Ravi Gulati
Phone 1800-425-3353
E-mail pc@in.lenovo.com
Website www.lenovo.com/in
Warranty 1 year
RATINGS
Build quality
Ergonomics
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
Mobile Phone
Nokia 6131
Specifications: Dimensions (WxHxD mm): 48 x 92 x 20,
Weight: 102g, Network: GSM 850/900/1800/1900,
Display (pixels, colors): 240 x 320, 16 million
(Internal)/128 x 160, 256K (External), Ringtones: 64
channel polyphonic, System Memory: 11 MB, Storage:
microSD, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, Infrared, FM Radio,
Audio Output: Pop-port, 1.3-megapixel camera
Price Rs 13,739
Contact Nokia
Website www.nokia.co.in
Warranty 1 year
RATINGS
Build quality
Ergonomics
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
Press to flip-open
A “flip open” always adds a bit of style
to one’s persona and Nokia’s 6131 will
certainly earn you a few brownie points.
rather unsophisticated “click” when
you do that.)
The phone comes equipped with a
Soccer 3D and Sudoku are a welcome
change from the usual Nokia fare.
The phone might not be as sleek or feature vibrant internal LCD display, capable Ergonomics and build quality
packed as the Motorola Razr or Nokia’s N- of reproducing 16 million colors. The The phone’s shell is made up of plastic
series but its simplicity will also get noticed. external 256,000 display is also sharp and metal. The rear panel is composed of
and text is legible. There is 11 MB of textured rubber giving it an excellent feel.
Features and applications phone memory available to enter up to The camera, power and volume controls
The Nokia 6131 is a Symbian Series 40 1000 contacts so there is no way you will are placed along the edges of the phone for
(3rd edition) which comes with a decent ever run out of address space. Additional easier access.
set of features. Though this phone looks memory in the form of a microSD slot is
like a higher-end version of the 6101 it provided, which can be inserted/removed Performance
is the successor to the Nokia 6125. The without switching off the phone. You can The Nokia 6131’s user interface is quick
6131’s special feature is the button near transfer files via the Pop-port to the PC and intuitive. Since this phone runs on the
the hinge on the top right hand corner of or bluetooth/infrared. Audio formats like Series 40 platform, there is no way to keep
the phone. Pressing it opens the clamshell AAC, MP3 and WMA can also be stored on any application running in the background.
phone instantly, making it easier for the phone or on microSD as the built-in Audio playback over the speakerphone is
single-handed use. (But you will hear a media player supports them. Games like good while the earphones could have been
better, as they have a tacky appearance.
Verdict
The phone will make for an adequate
companion if you need something easy to
use, light and small—though the price tips
over the ten thousand mark, making it a
little over priced.
For: Compact design; supports the
Pictbridge standard allowing for direct
printing to a compatible printer.
The microSD card can be removed without A profile view of the Nokia 6131 cell Against: LCD display not protected;
switching the phone off phone earphone quality is average.
Yes! I would like to subscribe to CHIP for Date of Birth: Card Expiry Date:
Pay Rs. 1200 and get Latest PC Game Battlefield Worth Rs. 1300 FREE Student Professional Self-employed Other
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Department, Infomedia India Limited, ‘A’ Wing, Ruby House, J. K. Sawant Marg,
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Please find enclosed Cheque/DD No. (Add Rs. 30 for outstation
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dated for Rs
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Or charge my Credit Card VISA MasterCard Amex @: subscriptions@infomediaindia.com, Website: www.chip-india.com,
Price Rs 11,990
Contact Kingston Technology
Phone 022-26592961
E-mail techsupport_india@kingston.com.tw
Website www.kingston.com/asia
Warranty 1 year
RATINGS
Build quality
Ergonomics
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
Entertainment on the go
A fter PC and flash memory solutions,
Kingston has now leapt into the
portable media player market with its
player supports most of the popular audio
and video formats. Apart from MP3 and
Wav which all players support, it can also
Performance and ergonomics
The player scores high on ergonomics. With
a great button layout and intuitive user
latest offering – the K-PEX 100. Let’s see handle WMA, Ogg and Audio ASF formats. interface, you can get used to the player
how much punch this player packs in a Video formats include MPEG-1 and 2, ASF, without referring to the manual. The only
palm-size form factor. WMV and AVI. The K-PEX 100 also boasts of difficulty is adjusting the volume as the
support for line-in and voice recording, as buttons are tacky.
Features well as an integrated speaker. If you have Coming to performance, the audio
The K-PEX 100 may remind you of a hand- media files on a USB flash drive, you can and video output were terrific. However,
held gaming device. You can play games play them off the drive using the USB host that’s probably because we used our own
on it, but you can do a whole lot more feature. Finally, you can enjoy the show on earphones—the ones which came with the
besides—you can listen to songs, watch its slick 5 cm TFT display. player don’t do it justice.
videos and movies, share photos, listen to Like its feature set, the list of accessories The K-PEX 100 does, however, have its
the radio and even read text files. runs long! The player comes with a share of rough edges. Surprisingly, it
To squeeze in all your media files, the protective silicone case, USB host cable, doesn’t support recording from FM, so you
player packs in 2 GB of flash memory. If line-in cable and lanyard. To top it off, you can forget about capturing songs aired
that’s not enough, you can slide in a miniSD get a bundled 256 MB miniSD card with a on your favorite radio stations. Secondly,
card and boost its storage capacity. The miniSD adapter free. if you wish to watch videos, you have to
transcode them into the player’s native
format (.mpx) before transferring it using
the bundled software.
The player is great for casual listening
and video watching. But if you’re serious
about buying a good portable music player,
there are better ones out there like the
Sony PSP and Creative Zen Vision M.
For: Good form factor, intuitive interface,
great feature-set, expandable memory
Against: Tacky volume control buttons;
The K-PEX 100 is bundled with all the The four-way navigation buttons make awful earphones; cannot record from FM
accessories including a 256 MB mini SD card the K-PEX extremely user-friendly radio; videos require transcoding.
iPod Speakers
Altec Lansing inMotion 9 iPod
Specifications: Dimensions (WxDxH mm):
280x76x198, Amplifier: High Efficiency class D type,
Frequency Response: N/A; Output Power: N/A,
Weight: 1.8 kgs
Price Rs 11,800
Contact Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd
Phone 022-67090909
E-mail navinderc@rptechindia.com
Website www.alteclansing.com
Warranty 1 year
RATINGS
Build quality
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
portable media player. If you’ve ever been which helps the speakers stay vertical. They Performance
in such a situation, you need a set of good can be placed flat as well. The battery in the speaker system lasts for
portable speakers to carry on your picnics, almost a day. This should get you through
trips, journeys, etc. Altec Lansing has just Features your entire picnic but if you’re planning to
the solution for you with the inMotion 9. The inMotion 9 speakers feature a 2.5-inch take it on a long trip, be sure to carry extra
driver for low and mid-range frequencies battery packs along. As far as the sound
Build quality and design and a 1-inch driver for high frequency quality is concerned, the lows and the mid-
The Altec Lansing IM9 is a portable speaker sound. The speakers can also operate frequency ranges are not up to the mark.
system designed with the iPod in mind. through four C-sized batteries. This means With its compact design, these speakers
The USP of this device is its compact form you can use these speakers any place do compromise on the bass owing to the
factor—it is only 76 mm thick which makes you like, even on the go where an electric absence of bass ports, thereby muffling the
it slimmer than most speakers in this point is not available. Additional plates are overall sound quality. So, if you are planning
category. The jet black color with silver provided if you own an iPod nano or an on grooving to the drums, you will be
corners lends the device an understated iPod video so that they can be adapted to disappointed. The treble was crisp and clear
appeal. It is almost as small as a notebook the iPod bay. The rear bay consists of an though and the speakers packed enough
but slightly thicker. The center of the auxiliary input jack to attach MP3 players of punch to regale a group of friends in a
speaker system contains a recessed area of brands other than the iPod. It even has a coffee shop.
into which the iPod can dock. The top of 3.5 mm headphone jack for silent listening.
the speaker system features the power A composite video out jack enables you to Verdict
button, volume controls and the eject Although these speakers have a compact
button which opens out the iPod tray. design, they could have been more portable.
The buttons were seamlessly integrated They retail for Rs 11,800 which is too steep
into the speakers, but the volume controls for casual listening. We would suggest you
failed to impress as they were hard and also take a look at the Altec Lansing IM7 as a
not so responsive. Although the speakers buying alternative.
are lightweight and portable, we strongly For: Small form factor; good treble.
missed a handle that could have been fixed Different attachments can be used to Against: Average bass; not very portable;
on the rear side of the speakers without connect different iPod products expensive.
OCTOBER 2006 | INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
TESTED | HARDWARE 49
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-945GM S2
Specifications: Socket: LGA775; Processor supported:
Intel Pentium D / Intel Pentium 4 / Intel Core 2
Duo; FSB: 1066/800/533 MHz; Chipset: Intel 945G;
Maximum memory: 4 GB; Network interface: Realtek
8111B GbE; Audio: ALC883 7.1 channel audio
Price Rs 6,750
Contact Gigabyte Technology (India) Ltd
Phone 022-26526696
E-mail sales@gigabyte.in
Website www.gigabyte.in
Warranty 3 years
RATINGS
Build quality
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
processor. Also, this was the first 945G- ensure that users can make full use of Performance
based motherboard that we were testing your multi-channel speaker system. As The performance of this motherboard
with a Conroe processor. far as adding peripherals are concerned, can be termed as average at best. The
this motherboard supports the RS232 and Sisoft Sandra CPU benchmarks were
Features the parallel port. So, if you are still using a slightly lower than its 865P counterpart.
This board supports up to 2 GB of modem over a telephone line or a parallel Its memory bandwidth benchmark was
maximum memory which should be more port printer, you can be sure that it will still limited to 4675 MB/s which is slower than
than sufficient for most practical purposes work on your brand new system. It also has many of the newer AMD platforms and
whether you are a designer or a power user. a single PS/2 port and 4 x USB 2.0 ports, is definitely slower than the 965 and 975
The board also supports one IDE connector providing ample connectivity options for series motherboards that are currently
for your optical drive and 4 x 3 Gbps SATA your USB peripherals. This motherboard available in the market. The hard drive
connectors which provide ample growth for also supports front USB headers. throughputs were at par with other similar
your storage needs. This setup would only motherboards. Its 3D Mark 2005 score was
be ideal if you used a single optical drive Design and layout only 669 3D marks considering the onboard
on the IDE connector and a SATA hard drive The Gigabyte GA-945GN S2 motherboard graphics solution. Therefore gaming
for storage. This board does not support features the compact MicroATX form without an external graphic adapter is not
RAID so if you are a casual user, it won’t factor design. The placement of the recommended.
make too much of a difference. Although processor is neat and uncluttered. The
the motherboard has onboard graphics, it stock heat sink fits perfectly and there is Verdict
also has a single PCI-E 16x slot for adding an enough space to add larger heat sinks. We The Gigabyte GA-945GM S2 provides
additional graphics card which would keep feel though that this motherboard may a decent set of features and enough
gamers happy. The motherboard comes not be designed for gaming enthusiasts performance for most processor hungry
with two additional PCI slots and a single but could definitely satisfy entry-level applications due to its support for Conroe
PCI-E 1x slot as expandability options. You gaming. The PCI-E and the PCI slots are so processors. However, it is recommended
can easily plug an additional TV tuner card closely packed together that given current against hardcore gaming applications.
into the extra PCI slot. A Realtek 8111B generation graphics solutions, the graphic For: Supports the Intel Conroe processor;
GbE chip provides network connectivity card would occupy the PCI-E as well as a GbE and 7.1 channel audio.
and ensures that your motherboard nearby PCI slot. You will probably need a Against: No RAID; no support for FireWire.
Multi-Functional Device
Canon PIXMA MP530
Specifications: Dimensions (WxDxH mm): 468 x
263 x 467, Weight: 12.8 kg, Interface: USB 2.0,
Print Resolution: upto 9600 x 2400 dpi, 5 Inkjet
cartridges, Scan Resolution: 1200 x 2400 dpi, Bit
Depth: 48-bit, Fax Transmission Speed: 33.6 Kbps,
Copier: Auto Duplex, Magnification/Reduction
Price Rs 20,995
Contact Canon India Pvt Ltd
Phone 1-800-3453366
E-mail info@canon.co.in
Website www.canon.co.in
Warranty 2 years
RATINGS
Build quality
Ergonomics
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
Multiple personality
T he MP530 succeeds the MP500 in
Canon’s Pixma series of ‘all-in-one’
multifunctional device. The MP530
consider the ADF and the rear panel. The
control panel has all the controls you need
to fax, copy, scan or print a document. You
it prints documents it will need to be
placed on a stable surface to avoid undue
sideways movements. It was able to print
multifunction device differs from the latter can dial a number using speed dial, choose ten sheets of text in 57 seconds while a
in size and weight (it is larger and heavier). your paper type, print quality and even the standard quality print pushed the time to
It has an automatic document feeder and input tray from this panel. The scanner’s 1 minute 20 seconds. There were no signs
doubles as your fax machine but lacks a hinge can be raised vertically by 10 mm to of ink smudging and the grey scales were
flash media reader. It also has support for accommodate a book. Most of the panels accurately reproduced.
cameras that are PictBridge or ExifPrint and hinges in the device are spring loaded, Photo printouts have become Canon’s
compliant. So, you can connect your digital reducing the impact whilst opening and forte ever since they started using their
camera directly to the printer. closing. The printer’s overall build is solid, new printing technology (Microfine Droplet
This bulky printer comes fitted with the trays are sturdy, the print head/cartridge Technology). A high quality A4 print took
foldable input/output trays, while the assembly is perfect and the quality of the just under three minutes. It manages to
ADF and CD/DVD tray (if you want to print plastic used is good. print details in a high-res image very well.
on the face of the disk) needs to be fixed The color reproduction seems to be deeper
manually prior to software installation. Performance than the ones produced by the MP500. The
Driver CDs for Windows-based and Mac- The MP530 is a silent printer though due MP530’s photo printouts tend to impart
based computers are also provided. to its weight and the speed at which a mild reddish tinge to skin tones, making
The control panel is replete with most them appear visibly warmer.
of the functions you will need to get a Scanning a page and printing it directly
document copied, scanned or printed with without the use of the computer was simple
minimal interaction with the computer. and the quality was stellar. It took all of 17
In addition to the printer driver you can seconds to scan a B5-size photograph.
also install software like Easy-Photo Print, The MP530 is a silent worker and is
scanning tools like ScanSoft and a CD-Label suited to a small office that requires a
printing application. quality as well as a fax machine.
For: The 48-bit depth scanner produces
Build quality and ergonomics quality scans. Photo quality prints are
The MP530 occupies some serious desktop excellent. The copier can be controlled
real estate. Apart from the manual sheet Print labels on CDs by fitting the CD/DVD completely via the control panel.
feed and output tray, you will also have to tray under the MP530’s hood Against: Lacks media card reader slots.
PC Case
Cooler Master Elite 300
Specifications: ATX Cabinet, Dimensions (w x h x d)
mm 203 x 413 x 486, Thermal Master 350 watts
power supply unit.
Price Rs 3,900
Contact Matrix 3D
Phone 022-23084511
E-mail sales@matrix3d.com
Website www.matrix3d.com
Warranty 2 years
RATINGS
Build quality
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
Wireless IP Camera
Level1 WCS-2030 wireless IP camera
Specifications: Interface (wired): 10/100 Mbps
Ethernet; Interface (wireless): 802.11b/g wireless;
Censor type: CMOS; Resolution: 640 x 480 (VGA);
Dimensions (WxDxH mm): 72.8 x 28.6 x 115.2;
Weight: 215 gms
Price Rs 13,500
Contact MINDS(India) Pvt Ltd
Phone 011-26312095
E-mail Jerry.albert@level1.co.in
Website http://www.level1.com
Warranty 1 Year
RATINGS
Build quality
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
Cost-effective surveillance
T he use of CCTV cameras and other
video surveillance systems is generally
associated with government security
by lowering the resolution to 320 x 280.
The device features a 4 mm lens with an
aperture size of F/2. This implies that the
like motion detection, snapshots as well
as scheduled recordings. The motion
detection system is particularly useful
agencies, banks, large corporations, camera will be able to take in a wide field since it does not record the image to the
etc and they can generally be seen in of view. It also implies that the camera hard drive when the camera does not
spy movies. Such security systems are should be able to capture images in low detect any movement. The output is 24-bit
generally quite expensive and one has to light conditions. Lets check later if this audio with 320x 280 MPEG-4 video which
pay a huge premium to avail the features translates into real-world performance. allows you to save on hard disk space as
of such a system. For all those home users It also features an omni-directional well as network bandwidth.
as well as small and medium businesses microphone for recording audio.
on a limited budget, the Level1 WCS-2030 Performance
wireless IP camera is an ideal solution. Setup and ease of use The image quality of this camera was
The USP of this device is the software above average though not exceptional.
Features that comes along with the package. It is It picked up details even in low light
The WCS-2030 is basically a video capable of displaying 16 live feeds at any conditions, although it did have some
surveillance system which transmits given moment. It can also be used to set trouble detecting motion in those
images using the TCP/IP protocol. It up and configure the camera. The camera situations. Its in-built microphone showed
basically uses a digital sensor to capture has a built-in web server that facilitates very little background noise and it could
data unlike a CCTV camera which typically remote setup. It also supports features pick up conversations at ranges of about
uses the analog mode of data capture. It 10 meters. Beyond that, the audio was not
uses a 10/100 Mbps high speed Ethernet discernable. The recorded video takes up
as well as an 802.11g based wireless considerably less space on the hard drive.
system to transmit captured data. This The snapshots were VGA quality and could
leads to seamless integration with an discern sufficient amount of details.
existing computer network system. The Level1 WCS-2030 retails for Rs 13,500,
Although the camera is capable of which seems extremely high, but the
recording VGA-quality video, it can only do software available with it alone will justify
so at 10 fps. So objects that move really investing in this IP camera
fast and really close to the camera, even For: Great bundled software; omni-
if they are captured, will only show up as All areas of the house can be monitored directional antenna; wireless connectivity
a blur. The frame rates can be increased simultaneously with the 16 screen output Against: No zoom; no swivel.
External TV Tuner
Pinnacle PCTV Pro USB
Specifications: High Speed USB 2.0; TV RF-in,
Remote Control; Capture analog video; Pinnacle
Media Center; Pinnacle Studio QuickStart.
Price Rs 4,990
Contact Pinnacle Systems
Phone 011-41608211
E-mail adey.extern@pinnaclesys.com
Website www.pinnaclesys.co.in
Warranty 1 Year
RATINGS
Build quality
Performance
Features
Overall Rating
Value for money
addition to their NexStar series of external There’s nothing to beat this one!
Price Rs 3,500
hard drive cases which have always For: Terrific build quality, support for Contact Apical Impex
been a class apart. It features a glossy eSATA, bundled SATA to eSATA bracket. Phone 9821349177
“Onyx Black” body with a mirror finish. Against: If you don’t keep it clean, there’ll E-mail tejas@apical.in
Website www.vantecusa.com
Unlike most cases which are meant for be fingerprints all over! Warranty 1 year
parallel ATA hard drives, this one supports Scores RATINGS
SATA hard drives. To use the drive, you eSATA interface Build quality
simply need to power up the case with Sequential Random Performance
a power adapter and connect it to a USB Read: 64.3 52.5 Features
port. What sets this drive apart from its Write: 64.3 52.3 Overall Rating
counterparts is the inclusion of an eSATA Hi-speed USB 2.0 interface Value for money
port on the rear panel. This means you Sequential Random
can even connect the device directly to an Read: 64.3 52.5
eSATA port if your motherboard supports Write: 64.3 52.3
This drive also has a DVD-RAM write ripping test it took just 86 seconds to Price Rs 3,000
speed of 12X. In addition to all these, rip three tracks from an audio CD. The Contact Samsung India Electronics Pvt. Ltd
Samsung has incorporated plenty of Nero CD-DVD Speed Tool also delivered Phone 011-41511234
E-mail hari.pandey@samsung.com
new technologies like the SAT (Speed impressive results, clocking an average
Website www.samsung.com/in
Adjustment Technology), TAC (Tilt speed of 12.2X.. Warranty 1 year
Actuator Compensation) and Double In the absence of 18X DVD media, it RATINGS
OPC (Optimum Power Control) into this would not make much sense to go in for Build quality
drive. It also has the mandatory buffer this drive, given the fact that its overall Performance
under run protection which is a norm in performance isn’t significantly greater Features
all drives these days. than the rest in its category. Overall Rating
The drive delivered very good results For: Excellent write speed, supports all Value for money
for our entire gamut of tests. It took a CD/DVD media.
spiffy 7.27 minutes to write 4.34 GB of Against: No 18X media available in the
data using Nero at a 16X write speed. market as yet.
Jagdish Limbachiya
TFT COMPARISON | HARDWARE 57
N
o matter how high-end your deal today is not the 15-inch variants but
computer, there is nothing quite the 17-inch versions. Not just the price,
like flaunting a TFT monitor on even the technology driving these panels
your desktop. A clear sign of being one of has seen drastic leaps—they deliver
the few who are on the leading edge of the crisper colors, greater contrast ratios,
display evolution, your decision to go in increased brightness, higher resolutions,
for a TFT—be it at home or at office—will all translating into a superb viewing
significantly upscale your image. However, experience. One of the pet peeves in
until not too long ago it was practically working with previous-generation TFTs
unthinkable for the majority of computer was the naggingly high pixel response
shoppers to even consider one of these time which often resulted in discernible
displays. As opposed to spending so much blurring and streaking during use. But
on them, the choice of spending extra all of that has changed—almost all TFT
was usually in favor of other system monitors today boast a pixel response
components like a faster processor, time of under 8 milliseconds. This means
additional RAM or a better graphics card. you can play the most intense of games or
The good old 15-inch CRT monitor (and watch the most exciting car chase movie
subsequently the 17-inch monitor) was sequences with no loss in video quality.
the mainstay in practically every home More that just being a computer display,
and office computer purchase. Until now, several TFT manufacturers even integrate
the ‘luxury’ of a TFT monitor was reserved TV tuners into their monitors, making
exclusively for the affluent home user or them devices around which all the family’s
the CEO of the company. entertainment needs can be met.
Times, however, have changed. Over TFT technology is also ushering in
the past year, we have seen a tremendous an era of high-definition video and
upheaval in TFT fabrication technologies, television—with their support of
many of which have directly contributed increasingly high resolutions, many
to a drastic 30 percent drop in prices. of these devices are now HDTV-ready.
How drastic? An entry-level 15-inch TFT Therefore, when you do finally decide
monitor can be bought today for about to go in for that Blu-ray drive or high-
Rs 8,900. For just 3,000 bucks more, you definition video signal later this year,
can get a 17-inch TFT. At these price levels, you will certainly be ready for it on the
we are now beginning to see TFTs making display front. Even though the displays
their presence well within the realm of we’ve reviewed here are not the home
entry-level consumers. Most computer theater variants (with inputs for DVD
manufacturers are now beginning to players and the like), they can certainly
configure their desktop ranges exclusively be used to view high-definition content
with TFT monitors. from your computer as their resolutions
With the advancements in well encompass the requirements for
manufacturing technology today, it demanding gaming and serious movie
actually makes more sense to create watching. To further sweeten the deal,
larger TFT panels as they turn out to be almost all TFT monitors above 19-inch
more economical to produce compared boast the widescreen form factor, fitting
to their smaller counterparts. Due to right in for all you movie and gaming buffs
this, the TFT monitor that strikes a great out there.
Test Process 10% Warranty & Support 25% Features dead pixels on black or white screens.
It wouldn’t be fair to compare a 15-inch
monitor with a 20-inch widescreen one. Ergonomics
10% Build
To create a fair ground for comparison, Quality The TFT monitor should be easy to use. The
we grouped the monitors based on the menu buttons should be easily reachable
screen size. Thus, we have three distinct and functions should be well-described
categories—15-inch, 17-inch and 19-inch in the OSD so that adjusting the settings
& greater. We evaluated the monitors on is easy for the user. Previous and next
the basis of their features, performance, buttons for menu choices, separate
ergonomics, build quality, and warranty brightness and contrast adjustment
and support. Let’s move on to what went buttons, clarity of OSD, etc were all taken
into each of these parameters. 10% Ergonomics 45% Performance into consideration.
Features CD, quick setup guide and the user manual. Build quality
We began with noting the dimensions, The features made up for 25 percent of the Apart from good performance and
weight and screen size of the TFT monitor. overall score. ergonomics, a monitor should also be
Here, note that the depth of the monitor robust with a sturdy screen frame, stand
is not the depth of the display panel, Performance and hinges. The base of the monitor should
but the footprint. Next, we noted the Being the most important section of be stable in all the extreme positions.
technical specifications that directly the test, this section carries an overall Usage of metal in body construction was
translate into performance. For a TFT weightage of 45 percent. For ascertaining given extra points. We also evaluated the
monitor the response time, pixel pitch, the performance of the monitors, we aesthetic appeal of each TFT display.
brightness and contrast ratio are the evaluated the viewing angle, reproduction
most important factors. Viewing angle of color gradients and response time. Warranty and support
is equally important especially when you To assess the viewing angle, we viewed Since TFT monitors are expensive and
are watching a movie together with your red, green, blue and greyscale blocks at delicate devices, they must be backed by
family and friends. Presence of a DVI port the center of the screen from 40 and robust warranty and support. Should a
in addition to D-sub is preferable since 80 degree angles. Points were given problem arise, a service center must be
you can take the advantage of digital depending on the visibility of the colored present close to where you live. For this
video signal rather than analog signal. blocks. Reproduction of color gradients purpose, there should be adequate number
Additional video inputs like component, is one of the serious weaknesses in most of service centers spanning across as many
composite and S-video were awarded extra TFT monitors. To ascertain the quality of cities all over the country. We noted the
points. Integrated features like speakers, gradation, we viewed and analyzed full warranty period, number of service centers
headphone jack, FM radio, USB hub and screen gradient images transitioning from in India and the number of cities in which
card reader extend the functionality of the black to red, green and blue diagonally. these centers are present.
monitor. We took note of all these features The monitors were graded depending We concluded the roundup with the
and awarded points accordingly. The menu on the smoothness of transition without “Value for Money” index which was
functions were checked for controls like any banding along the gradations. The calculated by stacking up the features and
brightness, contrast, screen position, color response time was evaluated by analyzing performance against the price. The better
temperature and auto-adjustment. Finally, the clarity of image and text in lateral the features and performance with respect
we frisked through the package contents. motion. The monitors were graded to price, the higher this index. Based on this
It’s essential that the monitor comes with according to the intensity of “Ghosting”. we have the “Best Value” product in each
the required DVI and D-sub cables, driver Points were deduced for the presence of category in addition to the “Best Performer”.
The rear panel of the Asus PW201 Working with portraits is more convenient USB hub and headphone jack positioned
features all types of video inputs with vertical screen orientation at the side of the TFT monitor
Specifications: Dimensions (WxHxD): 350 x 318 x 133 Specifications: Dimensions: (WxHxD) mm 331 x 338 x Specifications: Dimensions: (WxHxD) mm 376 x 463 x
mm, Screen size: 15-inches, optimal resolution: 1024 136, Screen size: 15 inches, optimal resolution: 1024 229, Screen size: 17 inches, optimal resolution: 1280
x 768, Aspect ratio: 4:3, Brightness: 250 Cd/sq.mt, x 768, Aspect ratio: 4:3, Brightness: 250 Cd/sq.mt, x 1024, Aspect ratio: 4:3, Brightness: 280 Cd/sq.mt,
Contrast ratio: 400:1, Response time: 12 ms. Contrast ratio: 400:1, Response time: 16 ms. Contrast ratio: 500:1, Response time: 4 ms.
The LG Flatron L1515S is quite a performer, The BenQ FP52G definitely has the looks The ViewSonic VP720B comes in with
in spite of being fairly thin and light, when it comes to sleek features—this best-of-class performance in its category
weighing in at just 2.5 kg. This TFT monitor is exemplified with its silver black color with its good specifications. This TFT has
has the lowest response time of 12 ms combination which will fit snugly with a superb response time of 4 ms, which
as compared to other monitors in the your desktop. It’s the best-priced monitor was the best across all categories. This
category which have a response time of 16 in the 15-inch category with a pricetag of was apparent from the lack of errors in
ms. As a result the L1515S had very little just Rs 8,900 and is an average performer. fast moving video. The monitor offers
ghost trails in fast moving videos making Considering its size, it weighs a bit more both D-Sub or a DVI connectivity options
it suitable for movies and gaming on a than expected at 3.7 kg and has an average (the latter offering excellent video quality
small screen. Being a 15-inch monitor this response time of 16 ms. As expected, this when used with a compatible graphics
monitor has a pixel pitch of 0.294 which monitor supports a maximum resolution card). This monitor weighs in at 5.5 Kg and
effectively translates into an optimal of 1024x768 at a 32-bit color depth. The stands on a robust base which provides
resolution of 1024x768. The monitor brightness of the TFT was 250 Cd/sq.mt. adequate support. In spite of tilting,
features a brightness level of 250 Cd/m2 This TFT comes with a D-Sub connector, swiveling, adjusting the height, and
and a contrast ratio of 400:1. but there were no DVI connections. pivoting, it remained firmly in place. The
The monitor also features good The color gradations were near portrait viewing mode especially comes in
ergonomics with amply spaced buttons and average except for the gray gradations handy for designers who do not want to
an OSD with functions clearly explained. which were visibly bad. While viewing scroll down when working on documents
As for performance, the image quality was colors at an angle, the screen display or images.
excellent with vibrant colors. If you want quality was reasonably good. If All this translated into good viewing angles
a monitor that fits in cramped space and performance is not to important a and color reproduction. If you are looking
doesn’t compromise on performance then criterion, this TFT is a great choice for for a great 17-inch TFT, the VP720B would
this monitor is the one which you should basic home and office use. suit even the most demanding of tasks.
look out for. For: Nicely priced, good-looking, easily For: Excellent response time and color
For: Good image quality; very good response accessible menu buttons. reproduction; portrait screen orientation;
time; light in weight. Against: Shallow viewing angle, no DVI DVI interface.
Against: No swivel. connection. Against: Expensive.
Specifications: Dimensions: (WxHxD) mm 407 x 215 x Specifications: Dimensions: (WxHxD) mm 524 x 482 x Specifications: Dimensions: (WxHxD) mm 425 x 418 x
423, Screen size: 17 inches, optimal resolution: 1280 244, Screen size: 22 inches, optimal resolution: 1680 207, Screen size: 19 inches, optimal resolution: 1280
x 1024, Aspect ratio: 4:3, Brightness: 250 Cd/sq.mt, x 105, Aspect ratio: 16:10, Brightness: 280 Cd/sq.mt, x 1024, Aspect ratio: 4:3, Brightness: 270 Cd/sq.mt,
Contrast ratio: 450:1, Response time: 16 ms. Contrast ratio: 700:1, Response time: 5 ms. Contrast ratio: 500:1, Response time: 8 ms.
The AOC LM725 has a slew of features and a The ViewSonic VX2235W is one TFT that Coming in at under Rs 15,000, the
great price to go along with it, making this delivers great visual performance, a AOC LM925 is the most affordable
monitor the best value TFT in the 17-inch widescreen form factor and blazing fast 19-inch monitor available in the market.
category. It is elegantly designed so it response times. Weighing in at just 6 Kg, it In fact, there are several 17-inch monitors
doesn’t take up much space on the desk. stands on a solid foot which supports the available at this price. This monitor gives a
It has a pretty good contrast rate of 350:1 TFT even in extreme positions. This monitor maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 which
along with a response time of 16 ms. The has a diagonal screen size of 22-inches and is pretty low for a screen this size.
maximum brightness that can be achieved a stunning resolution of 1680 x 1050 while The TFT stands on a solid foot which
with this monitor was 250 Cd/sq.mt led to plenty of screen real estate. allows you only one degree of freedom and
which was average when compared to The brightness of this monitor is 280 it can withstand the weight of the monitor
other 17-inch TFT’s which are about 20% Cd/sq.mt and it has a commendable even at extreme angles. The LM925 has
brighter. The maximum resolution this contrast ratio of 700:1 which is the highest a commendable response time of 8 ms
TFT could display was 1280×1024 pixels across all categories. The menu buttons which makes it worth the buy for normal
which is normal for a panel of this size. The were not placed comfortably though, you home and office users. The red and blue
menu buttons were pretty well described would need to exert a bit of dexterity to gradations were really good but the green
and nicely placed, making them easily push them. Sporting both the D-Sub or and gray gradations were visibly washed
accessible. the DVI interface, it can be used at the out. The color performance was below
There was no DVI connection which was highest of quality levels. You also have the par when viewed at extreme angles—this
surprising for a 17-inch monitor, although audio connector for the speakers provided could translate into a visible image quality
it did have integrated speakers. The color with the monitor. If your needs involve loss. If you need to be entertained and play
gradations were pretty good except for high-end 3D graphics, page layout or games without shelling out too much, and
green. With its sub-10,000 price, this video processing, this monitor is the ideal are willing to settle for a slightly lower
monitor hits a very sweet spot for entry- complement to a fast computer. performance, the LM925 is a good choice.
level applications in homes or office. For: Excellent screen resolution and image For: Nicely priced; good response time;
For: Great price; good color gradations; quality; quick response time, built-in built-in speakers; DVI connector.
speakers. speakers. Against: Color reproduction at extreme
Against: No DVI. Against: Expensive. angles was sub-par.
SpecScan
1 2 3
CATEGORY 15-inch
Name LG Flatron L1515S LG Flatron L1520B BenQ FP51G
Contact LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd BenQ India Pvt Ltd
Phone 0120-2560900 0120-2560900 9312378705
E-mail shopping3@lgindia.com shopping3@lgindia.com sudip.de@benq.com
Price* Rs 10,490 Rs 10,490 Rs 8,900
Overall
Features (out of 25) 13.39 13.03 12.70
Performance (out of 45) 30.90 26.18 29.63
Ergonomics (out of 10) 7.21 7.21 8.36
Build quality (out of 10) 7.50 8.09 5.88
Warranty and support (out of 10) 8.75 8.75 4.72
Overall (out of 100) Total: 67.75 Total: 63.26 Total: 61.29
Value for money (out of 5)
Features
Dimensions (WxHxD) (mm) 350 x 318 x 133 364 x 331 x 220 331 x 338 x 136
Weight (Kg) 2.5 3.2 3.7
Pixel pitch (mm) 0.297 0.3 0.297
Diagonal screen size (inches) 15 15 15
Scanning freq (Hor. KHz/Vert. Hz) 63 / 75 63 / 75 63 / 75
Screen aspect ratio 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional)
Optimal resolution 1024 x 768 1024 x 768 1024 x 768
Brightness (Cd/sq.mt) 250 250 250
Contrast Ratio 400:1 400:1 400:1
Response time (ms) 12 25 16
Video input (DVI, D-sub, RGB, S-video, Composite) ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕
HDTV capable ✕ ✕ ✕
Integrated TV Tuner ✕ ✕ ✕
Performance
Viewing Angle (out of 5)
40 degrees (right/left) 3.0 / 3.0 3.3 / 3.3 4.2 / 4.2
80 degrees (right/left) 1.8 / 1.8 3.0 / 3.0 2.5 / 2.5
Colour Gradation (out of 5)
Red Gradation 5 2.5 3.5
Green Gradation 3.5 2.5 3.5
Blue Gradation 5 3.5 5
Black to White Gradation 3.5 2.5 2.5
Response Time (out of 5)
White bouncing square 2.5 2.5 2.5
Horizontally moving RGB blocks 2.5 1.5 2.5
Pixel Persistence Analysis 2.5 2.5 2
Ergonomics
Functions clearly described ✓ ✓ ✓
All buttons and switches easily reachable Good Poor Good
Brightness/contrast separate from OSD ✓ ✓ ✓
Concealed cables ✕ ✓ ✕
Feathertouch buttons ✕ ✕ ✕
Build quality
Ease of swivel ✓ ✓ ✕
Presence of sharp edges ✓ ✕ ✕
Sturdiness of stand and hinges Good Good Good
Slide-resistant base ✓ ✓ ✓
Warranty & Support
Period of warranty (years) 3 3 3
Number of authorised service centres 250 250 40
Number of cities where service centres are present 120 120 38
* Prices are indicative and are subject to change, taxes extra
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
TFT COMPARISON | HARDWARE 63
4 5 6 7 8
17-inch 17-inch
Samsung SyncMaster 540N TCL H582B AOC LM525 ViewSonic VP720B Samsung SyncMaster 740N
Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd TTE Corporation AOC Monitor Roop Technology Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd
011-41511234 022-40080619 0124-2806116 022-26681921 011-41511234
v.mittal@samsung.com akhtar.khan@tcl.com jeetika@in.aocmonitor.com roop@vsnl.com v.mittal@samsung.com
Rs 9,300 Rs 8,700 Rs 8,500 Rs 15,999 Rs 11,000
337.5 x 333.8 x 180 439 x 450 x 125 432 x 440 x 198 376 x 463 x 229 366 x 378 x 201
3.65 4 3 5.5 3.4
0.297 0.297 0.297 0.264 0.264
15 15 15 17 17
61 / 75 83 / 75 60 / 75 82 / 85 81 / 75
4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional)
1024 x 768 1024 x 768 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 1280 x 1024
250 250 250 280 300
450:1 400:1 400:1 500:1 600:1
16 16 25 4 8
✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
2.5 / 2.5 2.5 / 2.5 2.2 / 2.2 5.0 / 5.0 4.2 / 4.2
2.5 / 2.5 1.5 / 1.5 1.5 / 1.5 4.2 / 4.2 4.2 / 4.2
✕ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✓
Good Good Good Good Good
✓ ✕ ✕ ✓ ✓
✓ ✕ ✓ ✕ ✓
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
✓ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✓
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
Good Good Average Good Average
✓ ✓ ✕ ✓ ✓
3 3 3 3 3
140 24 60 102 140
120 24 60 102 120
SpecScan
9 10 11
CATEGORY 17-inch
Name AOC LM725 Zenith Z17 BenQ FP71G +S
Contact AOC Monitor Zenith Helpdesk BenQ India Pvt Ltd
Phone 0124-2806116 1800-22-2004 9312378705
E-mail jeetika@in.aocmonitor.com info@zenith-india.com sudip.de@benq.com
Price* Rs 9,600 Rs 11,500 Rs 10,750
Overall
Features (out of 25) 14.19 15.04 14.92
Performance (out of 45) 33.30 32.55 29.25
Ergonomics (out of 10) 8.14 8.71 8.79
Build quality (out of 10) 5.59 5.88 5.59
Warranty and support (out of 10) 5.50 1.58 4.72
Overall (out of 100) Total: 66.72 Total: 63.77 Total: 63.26
Value for money (out of 5)
Features
Dimensions (WxHxD) (mm) 407 x 215 x 423 380 x 402 x 214 362 x 378 x 135
Weight (Kg) 4.5 4.3 3.8
Pixel pitch (mm) 0.264 0.264 0.264
Diagonal screen size (inches) 17 17 17
Scanning freq (Hor. KHz/Vert. Hz) 83 / 75 81 / 75 83 / 76
Screen aspect ratio 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional)
Optimal resolution 1280 x 1024 1280 x 1024 1280 x 1024
Brightness (Cd/sq.mt) 250 300 250
Contrast Ratio 450:1 500:1 500:1
Response time (ms) 16 8 8
Video input (DVI, D-sub, RGB, S-video, Composite) ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕
HDTV capable ✕ ✕ ✕
Integrated TV Tuner ✕ ✕ ✕
Performance
Viewing Angle (out of 5)
40 degrees (right/left) 5.0 / 5.0 4.2 / 4.2 4.2 / 4.2
80 degrees (right/left) 2.5 / 2.5 2.5 / 2.5 3.3 / 3.3
Colour Gradation (out of 5)
Red Gradation 5 5 2.5
Green Gradation 3.5 3.5 3.5
Blue Gradation 5 5 3.5
Black to White Gradation 3.5 3.5 1.5
Response Time (out of 5)
White bouncing square 1.5 2.5 2.5
Horizontally moving RGB blocks 2.5 2.5 3.5
Pixel Persistence Analysis 3 2.5 3
Ergonomics
Functions clearly described ✓ ✓ ✓
All buttons and switches easily reachable Good Good Good
Brightness/contrast separate from OSD ✕ ✓ ✓
Concealed cables ✕ ✕ ✕
Feathertouch buttons ✕ ✕ ✕
Build quality
Ease of swivel ✓ ✓ ✕
Presence of sharp edges ✕ ✕ ✕
Sturdiness of stand and hinges Average Average Good
Slide-resistant base ✓ ✓ ✓
Warranty & Support
Period of warranty (years) 3 1 3
Number of authorised service centres 60 13 40
Number of cities where service centres are present 60 13 38
* Prices are indicative and are subject to change, taxes extra
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
TFT COMPARISON | HARDWARE 65
12 13 14 15 16
19-inch
Asus PM17TU TCL 7005L12 Asus PW201 ViewSonic VX2235WM ViewSonic VP920B
ASUSTeK Computer Inc TTE Corporation ASUSTeK Computer Inc Roop Technology Roop Technology
022-40058891 022-40080619 022-40058891 022-26681921 022-26681921
media_india@asus.com akhtar.khan@tcl.com media_india@asus.com roop@vsnl.com roop@vsnl.com
Rs 18,000 Rs 11,200 Rs 38,000 Rs 29,999 Rs 18,999
390 x 416 x 180 210 x 455 x 460 496 x 560 x 280 524 x 482 x 244 416 x 479 x 238
4.5 7 9.7 6 6.3
0.264 0.264 0.258 0.282 0.294
17 17 20 22 19
60 / 75 80 / 75 81 / 75 82 / 85 82 / 85
4:3 (Conventional) 4:3 (Conventional) 16:10 (Widescreen) 16:10 (Widescreen) 16:10 (Widescreen)
1280 x 1024 1280 x 1024 1680 x 1050 1680 x 1050 1280 x 1024
500 300 300 280 250
600:1 500:1 800:1 700:1 500:1
4 7 8 5 4
✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✓|✓|✓ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
5.0 / 5.0 2.5 / 2.5 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0
3.3 / 3.3 2.2 / 2.2 5.0 / 5.0 3.3 / 3.3 5.0 / 5.0
✕ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕
Poor Good Good Average Good
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
✓ ✕ ✓ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✓ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✓ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
Average Average Good Good Good
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
3 3 3 3 3
13 26 13 102 102
13 26 13 102 102
SpecScan
17 18 19
CATEGORY
Name ViewSonic VA 1912WB TCL 983A AOC LM925
Contact Roop Technology TTE Corporation AOC Monitor
Phone 022-26681921 022-40080619 0124-2806116
E-mail roop@vsnl.com akhtar.khan@tcl.com jeetika@in.aocmonitor.com
Price* Rs 15,999 Rs 16,000 Rs 14,500
Overall
Features (out of 25) 16.56 14.86 15.37
Performance (out of 45) 30.08 35.93 33.15
Ergonomics (out of 10) 9.86 8.57 8.14
Build quality (out of 10) 5.00 4.85 5.88
Warranty and support (out of 10) 7.02 4.27 5.50
Overall (out of 100) Total: 68.51 Total: 68.48 Total: 68.04
Value for money (out of 5)
Features
Dimensions (WxHxD) (mm) 451 x 391 x 197 440 x 365 x 150 425 x 418 x 207
Weight (Kg) 4.5 4.8 5.9
Pixel pitch (mm) 0.285 0.289 0.294
Diagonal screen size (inches) 19 19 19
Scanning freq (Hor. KHz/Vert. Hz) 82 / 85 80 / 76 83 / 75
Screen aspect ratio 16:10 (Widescreen) 16:10 (Widescreen) 4:3 (Conventional)
Optimal resolution 1440 x 900 1440 x 900 1280 x 1024
Brightness (Cd/sq.mt) 280 300 270
Contrast Ratio 700:1 500:1 500:1
Response time (ms) 8 8 8
Video input (DVI, D-sub, RGB, S-video, Composite) ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕
HDTV capable ✕ ✕ ✕
Integrated TV Tuner ✕ ✕ ✕
Performance
Viewing Angle (out of 5)
40 degrees (right/left) 4.2 / 4.2 3.0 / 3.0 5.0 / 5.0
80 degrees (right/left) 3.0 / 3.0 2.2 / 2.2 3.3 / 3.3
Colour Gradation (out of 5)
Red Gradation 3.5 5 5
Green Gradation 1.5 5 3.5
Blue Gradation 5 5 5
Black to White Gradation 1.5 5 2.5
Response Time (out of 5)
White bouncing square 3.5 3.5 2.5
Horizontally moving RGB blocks 3.5 3.5 2.5
Pixel Persistence Analysis 3 3 2.5
Ergonomics
Functions clearly described ✓ ✓ ✓
All buttons and switches easily reachable Good Good Good
Brightness/contrast separate from OSD ✓ ✕ ✕
Concealed cables ✓ ✕ ✕
Feathertouch buttons ✕ ✕ ✕
Build quality
Ease of swivel ✕ ✕ ✓
Presence of sharp edges ✕ ✕ ✕
Sturdiness of stand and hinges Good Average Average
Slide-resistant base ✕ ✓ ✓
Warranty & Support
Period of warranty (years) 3 3 3
Number of authorised service centres 102 26 60
Number of cities where service centres are present 102 26 60
* Prices are indicative and are subject to change, taxes extra
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
TFT COMPARISON | HARDWARE 67
20 21 22 23 24
LG Flatron L1950SQ ViewSonic VG2021M Samsung SyncMaster 940BW HP L1906 VU 19W1
LG Electronics India Pvt Ltd Roop Technology Samsung India Electronics Pvt Ltd Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd VU Suite
0120-2560900 022-26681921 011-41511234 022-67090909 022-64502424
shopping3@lgindia.com roop@vsnl.com v.mittal@samsung.com navinderc@rptechindia.com info@technologies.vu
Rs 18,990 Rs 19,999 Rs 16,500 Rs 19,990 Rs 13,000
413 x 421 x 230.5 458 x 465 x 205 439 x 327.3 x 200 422 x 427 x 203 445 x 373 x 185
5.7 8.4 5.6 5.3 5.3
0.294 0.264 0.285 0.294 0.285
19 20 19 19 19
83 / 75 82 / 76 81 / 75 83 / 76 81 / 75
4:3 (Conventional) 16:10 (Widescreen) 16:10 (Widescreen) 4:3 (Conventional) 16:10 (Widescreen)
1280 x 1024 1400 x 1050 1440 x 900 1280 x 1024 1440 x 900
300 300 300 250 250
700:1 500:1 500:1 500:1 500:1
8 8 4 12 8
✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✕|✓|✕|✕|✕ ✓|✓|✕|✕|✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0 5.0 / 5.0 3.3 / 3.3 2.5 / 2.5
2.5 / 2.5 5.0 / 5.0 3.3 / 3.3 2.5 / 2.5 2.2 / 2.2
✓ ✕ ✕ ✓ ✓
Good Poor Good Good Average
✕ ✓ ✓ ✕ ✕
✓ ✕ ✓ ✕ ✓
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
✓ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
✕ ✕ ✕ ✕ ✕
Poor Good Average Good Average
✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✕
3 3 3 3 3
250 102 140 400 13
120 102 120 100 13
Blue-eyed babies
Our products of the month this time are based on the new optical drive
technology—Blu-ray. We take a look at how it works and follow it up with
comprehensive reviews
T
he need to archive large amounts What is Blu-ray? the higher frequency segment in the
of data is a common requirement Blu-ray is the next-generation technology visible spectrum of light, thus resulting
for organizations and individuals in optical storage after VHS, CD and in a lower wavelength (refer to box).
alike as access to data becomes simple DVD. The Blu-ray standard was jointly The wavelength of the laser used in
and speedy. While organizations have a developed by a group of consumer Blu-ray drives is 405 nm. To put it into
distinct need for large capacity storage electronics and PC companies called perspective, a CD drive uses an infrared
for backup of server as well as client data, the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), laser operating at a wavelength of
such storage requirements are not always spearheaded by Sony. It is designed 780 nm while a DVD drive uses a red laser
justified for casual users. With the increase for high-density storage of high- operating at a wavelength of 650 nm.
in broadband penetration as well as definition video and data. It is currently So, as we can see, using a light source
significant changes in the entertainment competing with the HD DVD format for that has a lower wavelength causes a
industry, high storage space requirements wide adoption as the preferred next smaller laser beam. This is advantageous
are slowly going to become mainstream. generation optical standard. because it can focus better at a point on
Optical storage consisted only of CD the media surface from a fixed distance
media in a not so distant past and the use How Blu-ray works as the wave travels faster and hits the
of DVD media is getting common with A Blu-ray drive looks and works in surface before it disperses. Thus the
the decrease in prices of DVD writers traditionally the same way as any other light ray used in a Blu-ray drive is more
and media. This month we were part of optical drive. The difference is that accurate in pinpointing a particular
another breakthrough in optical storage Blu-ray drives use a violet-blue laser to area on the media surface. As the
technology with Sony’s launch of Blu-ray read data from an optical drive media focusing capability gets finer, media
enabled devices in India—an optical rather then the infrared light that is used manufacturers can increase the track
storage writer and a notebook featuring by CDs and red laser light used by DVD pitch (refer to box) on the media thus
Blu-ray technology. writers. The violet-blue color falls into increasing the media’s storage capacity.
Jagdish Limbachiya
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
PRODUCT OF THE MONTH | HARDWARE 69
Sony VAIO VGN-AR18GP Sony VAIO VGN-AR18GP Sony BWU-100A Blu-ray writer
Notebook Specifications: Processor: Intel Core Duo T2600,
Memory: 1 GB PC4200, Hard drive: 75 GB, Optical
Specifications: Interface : Internal ATAPI/E-IDE,
The Sony VAIO VGN-AR18GP desktop drive: 2x Blu-ray writer, Graphics: Nvidia Gforce Go Read/Write Speed: BD-R/BD-RE/BD-ROM (2x),
7600 256 MB, Display : 17-inch TFT, Dimensions DVD+R/DVD-R/DVD-ROM (8x), DVD+RW/DVD-RW :
replacement notebook is the first to
(WxDxH mm): 416 x 300 x 44, Weight: 3.8 kg (8x/6x), DVD-DL/DVD-RAM (4x/5x)
use the next generation Blu-ray optical
drive. Price Rs 1,99,900 Price Rs 44,300
Contact Sony India Contact Rashi Peripherals Pvt Ltd
Features Phone
E-mail
1800-11-11-88 (Toll Free)
sonyindia.care@ap.sony.com
Phone
E-mail
022 67090909
navinderc@rptechindia.com
Powered by the dual core Intel Centrino Website www.sony.com Website www.sony.com
Duo T2600 processor (Yonah) running Warranty 1 year Warranty 1 year
Processor AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (Socket AM2) 5,750 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ (Socket AM2) 8,600
RAM 512 MB Transcend DDR2 533 MHz 2,900 2x512 MB Transcend DDR2 533 MHz 5,800
Hard Disk Samsung SpinPoint HD160JJ 3,350 Western Digital WD3200KS 320 GB 6,000
Graphics Card Forsa 7600GS PCI-E 256 MB 7,500 BIG 7600GT-T2D256E 256 MB 10,700
Optical Drive Lite-On SHW-1635S Dual Layer DVD Writer 2,300 Lite-On SHW-1635S Dual Layer DVD Writer 2,300
Network Card Onboard 10/100 Fast Ethernet Nil Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE Nil
Keyboard Microsoft Wired Desktop 500 - Combo 825 Microsoft Internet Keyboard 650
Soundcard Creative Sound Blaster Live 5.1 1,550 Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value 24-bit 2,000
PC Case Blues MF-421 Case and Power Supply 1,375 Cooler Master Elite 330 3,000
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (Socket AM2) 14,500 Processor Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 27,500
2 x 512 MB Kingston KHX6400D2K2/1G 800 MHz 14,500 RAM 2x1 GB Transcend DDR2 533 MHz 5,800
Seagate ST3750640AS 23,200 Hard Drive Western Digital Raptor 1500ADFD 150 GB 15,000
XFX GeForce 7950GX2 38,000 Graphics Card Leadtek Quadro FX 540 128 MB 9,750
On-board 10/100/1000 GbE Nil Network Card Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE Nil
Logitech G-15 Gaming Keyboard 4,850 Keyboard Microsoft Internet Keyboard 650
Klipsch Promedia GMX A-2.1 11,150 Speakers 5.1 Logitech Z-5500 Digital 23,000
Logitech Z-5500 Digital 23,000 Soundcard Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro 27,000
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 5,800 PC Case Antec Performance P180 Silver 9,950
Antec Super Lanboy 5,500 Power Supply Cooler Master iGreen 500W 6,900
Cooler Master iGreen 500W 6,900 Input Device Wacom Graphire4 Tablet 6 x 8 9,000
(Optional)
Home
This is your no-frills, wallet-friendly
HTPC
If it’s home theater you crave, this
configuration for basic home computing system will deliver serious thrills
CATEGORY PRODUCT PRICE (Rs) CATEGORY PRODUCT PRICE (Rs)
Processor AMD Sempron 64 2800+ (Socket AM2) 3,100 Processor AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (Socket AM2) 5,750
Motherboard ASRock AM2V890-VSTA 3,800 Motherboard MSI K9NGM2 with SPDIF In/Out 4,350
RAM 512 MB Transcend DDR2 533 MHz 2,900 RAM 2x512 MB Transcend DDR2 533 MHz 5,800
Hard Drive Hitachi DeskStar 7K80 80 GB 2,300 Hard Drive Western Digital WD2500KS 250 GB 4,650
Graphics Card XFX GeForce 6200 TC 256MB 2,500 Graphics Card Onboard Graphics Nil
Optical Drive Lite-On SHW-1635S Dual Layer DVD Writer 2,300 Optical Drive Lite-On SHW-1635S Dual Layer DVD Writer 2,300
Network Card Onboard 10/100 Fast Ethernet Nil Network Card Onboard 10/100/1000 GbE Nil
Monitor Samsung SyncMaster 793S CRT 5,000 Monitor ViewSonic VX2235WM 29,999
PC Case Blues MF-421 Case and Power Supply 1,375 Power Supply Cooler Master Extreme Power 350 2,100
The physics
of PhysX
We put Asus’ Ageia PhysX P1 card to the
grind to find out whether it spices up your
gaming experience
A
step ahead of graphics cards, PhysX cards applications such as games, video and photo
enhance the visual aspect of games with editing software. It accelerates memory-intensive
more realistic details. As of now there work such as texture mapping and rendering
are only two players offering these cards—BFG polygons. It adds units to accelerate geometric
Technologies and Asus in partnership with Ageia. calculations such as translating vertices into
We got our hands on Asus’ PhysX P1 Physics different coordinate systems to control the
Processing Unit (PPU) with 128 MB of memory. The physics aspect of games. But now with the advent
256 MB version is yet to be launched. of the PPU, the physics aspect is taken care of and
So what is a PPU and how do we use it? The the load on the GPU is lessened.
Central Processing Unit (CPU) or the processor The PPU has approximately 125 million
takes care of all the complicated computations transistors and is based on the 130nm
for any application to run smoothly. The Graphical manufacturing process. The memory used is the
Processing Unit (GPU) or the graphics card was GDDR3 RAM with 733 MHz speed. It has 20G
invented to take the load off the CPU and make instruction/second data transfer speed and 2
it a standalone controller for graphics. The GPU Tbps internal memory bandwidth, which is way
comes handy in running all graphics-heavy higher than a high-end GPU with not more than
| Specifications Chart
Processor Type AGEIA PhysX
Bus Technology 32-bit PCI 3.0 Interface
Memory Interface 128-bit GDDR3 memory architecture
Memory Capacity 128 MB
Memory Bandwidth 12 GB/sec
Effective Memory Data Rate 733 MHz
Peak Instruction Bandwidth 20 billion instructions/sec
Sphere-Sphere collision/sec 530 million max
Pramod Jadhav
Convex-Convex collision/sec 533,000 max
x
xxxxxxxxxxxx Bet on Soldier: Blood Sport
Thanks to the PhysX card, controlling Blow away all the objects and watch the
Gunship Apocalypse
objects is a cakewalk in Cell Factor superb effects
Sacred II
With PhysX Card (fps) Without PhysX Card (fps) Crazy Machine 2
GRAW 48.36 48.2 Unreal Tournament 2007
F.E.A.R 75 75 Arena Online
Eye of the Storm
Doom 3 130.2 130
350 Gbps internal memory bandwidth. It card. The card has pretty good cooling enough so as to reduce the load on the GPU.
occupies one PCI slot of your motherboard. features with a 2.5 cm fan and a heat sink The card bundles two games, Tom
While testing we realized that there was an directly placed on the PPU. Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter
increase in the total power requirement of When it comes to graphics, this card is (GRAW) and a demo of Cell Factor. It is
the test rig with the physics card. The test rig a delight—whenever an explosion occurs, mandatory to have the physics accelerator
we used consisted of an AMD Athlon 64 FX you can see flying debris all around. While card to play Cell Factor, which has some
60 processor with 2 GB DDR2 RAM and an it would be great to navigate through the really good particle effects and mind-
Nvidia GeForce 7800GTX 256 MB graphics debris created, here it disappears quickly blowing graphics. The game is a futuristic
Gorgeous Graphics
Want a more realistic gaming experience? Pick from this guide to graphics cards
Entry-level Mid-range High-end
Models: ATI Radeon X1300 Pro, Nvidia GeForce 7300 Models: XFX 6600GT, PowerColor X800GTO, Models: XFX GeForce 7950 GX2, GeCube Radeon
GS, S3 Graphics Chrome S27 Gainward 1980PCX Ultra. X1900 XTX
Lost in modulation
S
ony ex-chairman Akio Morita enjoyed headphones are comfortable to wear over
listening to his Walkman while playing extended periods. But it’s the circuitry within the
tennis. Back in 1979, the Walkman player ear piece that deserves all the credit.
was a hit because it offered both portability and Here’s a technical explanation of how active
hi-fidelity audio. But the late Mr Morita wouldn’t noise cancellation works. Miniature microphones
have enjoyed his music on an airplane. in the headset pick up both ambient sounds as
On a flight to Europe in 1978, Dr Amar Bose was well as music coming through the headphones.
trying hard to appreciate the music on his standard It is assumed that most noise occurs at the low
issue airline headphone. But the soft notes were frequencies. So the mid- and high-frequency
overwhelmed by the roar of the engines. And Bose sounds are immediately filtered out of the signal,
| Brian Pereira
wondered if headphones could actually reduce allowed to pass through, and you hear them. brian.pereira@chip-india.com
noise. Back-of-the-envelope calculations on that The circuitry in the headset analyses the low
flight indicated it was possible. That led to Bose frequencies in real time, and applies a technique
Corporation to set up an entire research group called ‘phase inversion.’ A 180 degree inverted
dedicated to noise reduction technology. It was signal (see graph) is created. This neutralizes the
only after a whole decade of research that the first frequencies, though not entirely, because you do
Earphones with
Bose Acoustic Noise Cancelling headset was ready. need to listen to low frequencies in the music (bass sound isolating
When products with such technology emerged sounds). And that’s how the noise in the headset
technology can
from research labs and went commercial, prices cancels itself out. The Bose Quite Comfort series
were prohibitively high. But in recent months prices and Sennheiser’s PXC series of headphones employ block 70 - 80
have steadily fallen. If noise canceling headphones active noise cancellation. The Bose Quite Comfort percent of ambient
challenge your budget, then consider the more 3 headphone (US$ 350) is now smaller and lighter
affordable earphones with sound-isolating designs. than its predecessors. It uses a rechargeable sounds. So you’ll
Serious music enthusiasts are investing in noise- lithium-ion battery. The kit includes a battery hear more music
canceling technology. In fact, the technology is charger, case, ¼-inch stereo plug adapter, and a
aimed at those who listen to music while traveling. five-foot extension cord.
while traveling in
Some airlines have taken note and offer noise- Passive noise cancellation or sound-isolating an aircraft and less
canceling headphones on-board. technology is used in special earphones that have a
Noise canceling technology is available in two modified in-ear design. The nozzle on the ear piece
of its engine
forms: Active and Passive. Active noise-canceling goes deep into the ear canal. Effectively this is a ear
headphones are obviously more expensive. plug that blocks out ambient sounds, but directs
Headphones with active noise cancellation sound from its tiny speaker deep into the ear canal.
have special circuitry that generates a counter So you only hear the music. The Shure E series
signal to cancel surrounding noise. Naturally, earphones (see picture on the right) have sound
these headphones are battery-powered. isolating designs. Earphones with sound isolating
Light, rechargeable batteries ensure that such technology can block 70 - 80 percent of ambient
sounds. This means you’ll hear only the music while
Signal cancellation
traveling in an aeroplane, and less noise from its The Shure E5c earphone
employs sound isolating
engine. But be ready to spend anything between
technology to keep out
US$ 100 - 550 for these high-tech earphones. ambient sounds
Noise cancellation and sound-isolating
headphones cannot block out 100 percent ambient
sounds. But they significantly improve the listening
Ambient noise
experience, especially while commuting. These
Phase-inverted signal
products are not yet mainstream; for now they are
Signal cancellation
only for enthusiasts. The Bose Quite Comfort 3
A 180 degree inverted signal is created to The writer has been tracking personal technology headphone employs active
neutralize the low frequencies or noise noise cancellation technology
for the past 12 years
Satellite TV
You won’t need cable operators to watch your
favorite TV shows anymore, which means no
disturbance and no deprivation
Pramod Jadhav
Jagdish Limbachiya
Software Center
I n this month’s selection of software,
we have a bouquet of some interesting
applications maintaining a fine balance
lets you customize your music files. On the
multimedia front, we have KaraFun—a
free karaoke application that lets you sing
between shareware and freeware. The while it plays music without the vocals.
collection consists of an image editor, a SmartDraw 7 requires a special mention
sound editor, an anti-virus, a designing as with it you can design anything from
software and so on. The freeware reviewed flowcharts to certificates to scientific
this month are some of the best in their diagrams. While we have given importance
respective categories and would meet your to entertainment and fun this month, we
Applications
application needs without you having to pay have not ignored security. Kaspersky Internet
a paisa for it. Security is a complete security package
The software of the month is Ulead that ensures your computer is free from
PhotoImpact 11, a splendid image editor the threats of cyberspace. Those who want
allowing you to modify images the way their web browsers to do more than just
you want; it even allows you to create a browsing, we have the SeaMonkey, an all-in-
new picture by adding certain tweaks. For one Internet suite consisting of a browser, an
all you music lovers out there, we have e-mail client, an IRC instant messenger and
Adobe Audition 2.0, a sound editor that HTML editor, all built into one.
Image Editor
Ulead PhotoImpact 11
System requirements: Win 2000/XP, Pentium III
compatible or faster, 128 MB RAM (256 MB
recommended), 600 MB available hard disk space,
True color or hi-color display adapter with 800x600
resolutions or higher, CD-ROM drive
Audio Editor
Adobe Audition 2.0
System requirements: Win XP with SP2, Pentium III
compatible processor or higher, 512 MB of RAM (1
GB recommended), 700 MB of available hard-disk
space (5.5 GB recommended), 1,024x768 display
(1280x1024 recommended), soundcard with
DirectSound or ASIO drivers
Find it on
it is a relatively new Internet security under them, for instance under the firewall Price Rs 1,400
application, it has strong virus, spyware, settings you can select the level of priority Contact Communication Links
spam, and firewall tools to compete you desire for any application installed Phone 022-26736767
against established names such as Norton in your PC. Overall, Kaspersky Internet Email comlinks@vsnl.com
Website www.kaspersky.com
Internet Security 2006 and McAfee Security is not only fast and reliable but it
Internet Security Suite 2006. also offers more updates than application RATINGS
Ease of use
Kaspersky Internet Security 6 is a suites like Norton Internet Security and
Features
combination of an anti-virus program McAfee Internet Security.
Performance
and a personal firewall, along with an With loads of features, a large virus
Overall Rating
anti-spyware protection program, which database, easy configuration, and a
Value for money
makes it an excellent security suite. The comparatively low price tag, Kaspersky
Anti-spyware succeeds in detecting and Internet Security 6 is an excellent security Find it on CHIP CD
blocking web sites that contain malware application that you can try your hands on.
even before the site is loaded. There is For: User friendly and reliable.
also an anti-spam plug-in for Outlook Against: None.
Internet Suite
SeaMonkey 1.0.4
No monkey business
T here existed a time when Internet
power users needed to open multiple
windows in order to surf various web sites
easily accessible Cookie Manager and
Image Manager. Browsing experience
with SeaMonkey is comparable to Firefox.
simultaneously. This of course resulted However, it lacks many extensions and the
in a cramped taskbar. Then came the age themes feature available in Firefox.
of tab browsing which eased the task of The e-mail client and newsgroups
surfing. But then again there are many features of SeaMonkey are similar to that
users who want their browsers to do more of Thunderbird. There is a tool to detect
System requirements: Win 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003,
than just basic navigation. This specific phishing. Accessing mail from several
Intel pentium class processor (233 MHz or faster
recommended), 64 MB RAM, 100 MB of free hard need has given birth to the all-in-one accounts in a single inbox is possible. You
disk space Internet application suite, SeaMonkey. If can import address books mails and settings
Price Free
you use Mozilla products such as Firefox from other e-mail clients such as Outlook,
Contact Mozilla Foundation web browser or Thunderbird e-mail client Outlook Express and Thunderbird. ChatZilla
Website www.mozilla.org frequently, then SeaMonkey is just the (an Internet Relay Chat) program is built into
RATINGS application you need. SeaMonkey, which comes handy for those
Ease of use It is a multi-platform application who use IRC programs frequently.
Features integrated with the features of a web The HTML editor of SeaMonkey known as
Performance browser, an e-mail client, an IRC chat Composer provides various tools to edit the
Overall Rating
client, and a HTML composer. Although it HTML code of a web page and also to create
Find it on CHIP CD has a lackluster interface, the navigation new ones. The inclusion of HTML tags and
features are pretty much the same as HTML source makes the work easy.
that of Firefox; it also has the popular For: Multi-platform; ease of use.
Tab Browsing feature along with the Against: Lackluster interface.
Multimedia
Sing out loud!
KaraFun 1.10
O ften while listening to our favorite
number, we begin to sing along
with the artist. But then we don’t get the
fonts and color so that you can get familiar
with the lyrics.
Recording sound in KaraFun is very
pleasure of listening to our voice only, no simple. For instance, once you connect
matter how well our rendition is. With the microphone to the computer, you can
KaraFun, this is possible. It is a feature-rich record your voice by simply clicking on the
karaoke application capable of displaying record button. The recorded sound is saved
the music and the lyrics of the song without as a WAV file in the designated folder. The
System requirements: Win 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP/2003, the vocals. built-in KaraFun editor has some excellent
Intel pentium class processor (233 MHz or faster
Features are numerous with voice features namely importing of KOK, KAR, LRC
recommended), 64 MB RAM, 100 MB of free hard
disk space
recording, Key and Tempo control in order files, support for MP3, OGG, MID and KAR
to control the pitch and the pace of the files and real-time rendering, etc. KaraFun
Price Free
music respectively. The presence of Vocal supports the KFN file format, which is a
Contact Recisio Sas
Email support karafun.com
Reducer for MP3 files alters the vocal compressed file containing all information
website www.karafun.com effect of the music. Playlist management and files of the karaoke song. A single KFN
RATINGS and fullscreen or windowed display is also file can contain all the karaoke information
Ease of use present. It supports various audio and video such as music, lyrics, images and sounds.
Features file formats such as MP3, MIDI, OGG, WMA, You can download KFN files for you favorite
Performance MPEG, AVI, KAR and KFN. The settings numbers from the Internet. However, these
Overall Rating window of KaraFun offers quite a number of files are not very easily available.
options especially associating files that are Despite its glitches, KaraFun is must try
Find it on CHIP CD
required by KaraFun in either the Karaoke software for all music lovers, who want
mode or the KaraFun mode. There are to try a hand at karaoking with a little bit
settings for microphone and display as well. of assistance.
The most interesting option is the Training For: Easy usage; loaded with features.
mode, wherein you can select the type of Against: KFN files not easily available.
H
aving tried our hands on Live CD Setup and installation
distributions like Knoppix and To get started with Damn Small Linux - Not, you
Ubuntu, we became well aware of can either download the latest version of the .iso
their limitations. Such operating systems load from http://www.damnsmalllinux.org/dsl-n/
themselves into memory and all the data that you download.html or find it on this month’s DVD.
have worked on is lost as soon as your system is The entire distribution is only about 95 MB in size
rebooted. If you want to store data, you will have and can easily fit on a 128 MB flash drive. Unlike
to connect a USB thumb drive or your hard disk. Feather Linux, you cannot install DSL-N directly
Although storage of data is possible using a Live to a USB flash drive. Burn the iso file that you
CD, it does not allow you to retain your network just downloaded with your favourite CD writing
and application settings, browser bookmarks, software to convert it into a Live CD. Booting off
themes, desktop wallpapers, custom changes the newly created Live CD takes you to DSL-N’s
made to configuration files, etc. It is also generally default desktop interface system. Right click to
Want to slow and takes up a large amount of system invoke the main menu and select “Tools | Install
try out resources to run with decent response times. It to pen drive”. To install this on the USB flash
provides ease of use in terms of getting used to drive, select “USB ZIP pen drive”.
DAMN SMALL the system without touching your existing hard The Install to thumb drive menu is invoked.
LINUX?
There are ten 1 GB drives to be
drive. Our quest for a solution that is not only easy
to use but can also store enough data ended with
Make sure that your flash drive has two
partitions for your applications, settings and
a distribution that could run off the USB thumb data. Also make sure that your USB flash drive
won! Simply answer this question:
Who was the creator of Damn drive. After analysing a couple of options, we is formatted with the FAT32 file-system and
Small Linux? zeroed down to DSL-N (Damn Small Linux-Not) inserted directly into a USB port and not into a
Send in your replies to that is not only lightweight and easy to use, but USB hub. Once you are done, boot up from your
contests@chip-india.com also provides a decent set of features, flexibility shiny new USB flash drive.
and speed of an installed operating system.
Pramod Jadhav
The distribution booted off perfectly floppy, CD/DVD drive, another flash drive, any audio/video file format. However, it
on our 2.0 GHz Celeron system with 256 internal or external hard drive if attached, is not as simple as double clicking on the
MB of memory. All hardware including etc. The lower left corner displays the file. We got the DivX movies and MP3
the graphics, network and sound was complete desktop workspace and how audio working by invoking mplayer at the
detected and worked flawlessly. The scroll objects are placed in the workspace. command line.
function of the mouse worked perfectly Objects like forms, applications, etc can The distribution even includes an
too. We installed it on a 500 MHz Celeron be dragged and dropped into different all-in-one messaging system called Gaim
system with 128 MB of memory and work spaces and can be accessed with to keep in touch with your online buddies.
the operating system was responsive. the click of a button. The top half has Most documentation out there on the
Although this distribution should work easy access to a command terminal Internet is in the PDF format and the Xpdf
on most Intel and VIA hardware, don’t for manual system control. It also viewer does a good job of displaying PDF
expect it to work on your latest AM2 has shortcuts to programs that documents and files.
platform—like most other Linux facilitate easy management of
distributions, ATI chipset support is hardware as well as software. Performance and usability
still missing. The ‘mydsl’ extension tool provides When we first used DSL-N, we were
an easy way to install additional very impressed with its minimalistic
At the desktop software contributed by users. installation process and super fast speed.
Damn Small Linux-Not features The DSL panel is like a control In fact, for normal office applications,
a neat image of the sea as the panel system that can be used to we saw no visible decrease in system
default wallpaper. The first thing set networking, printing, wireless, response even on a low-end P3 system.
that catches the eye is the graphical broadband connection, X server, So it’s time to make use of the older
system monitoring system. The backup and restore of data, etc. The computers that you were perhaps
system monitor sits on the right side lower panel at the bottom of the prepared to dump as you thought they
of the desktop and provides real time screen shows the current time and were not worthy of running Windows
information about all aspects of your date as well as holds the taskbar. XP. To cite you an example, the research
PC. Some of the information provided work for this review as well as writing
includes network bandwidth, number Applications it was done using DSL-N off a PQI 256
of active processes, CPU usage DSL-N although being a MB USB flash drive. The CUPS printing
(percentage), memory and swap minimalistic distribution, does system seamlessly integrated into our
file usage, file system usage, system not skimp on the basic necessities. It office network while also being able to
uptime and battery life if the system in features a fully featured web browser print perfectly to the HP 4100 mono laser
question is a laptop. It also displays the and a mail client called the Mozilla printer. Its Samba shares also integrated
current kernel version, hostname and IP SeaMonkey suite. This suite even includes seamlessly into our Windows network
address of the system. This information an IRC chat client system. Its office although it was not as simple as a double
can be particularly useful in analysing productivity software includes AbiWord, click in LinNeighbourhood.
how your system is being used. In the a fully featured word processor and
lower right corner lies the master volume Gnumeric, a fully featured spreadsheet Verdict
control as well as the mount feature. The software that you can open, edit Damn Small Linux-Not satisfies most
mount feature is particularly useful if and save in Microsoft Office basic application requirements. For a
you want to access storage devices like format. But don’t expect these distribution that is under 100 MB and
office productivity tools to run runs entirely out of RAM, it provides
| Note all your VB macros although blazing fast performance and a
Only get into this whole exercise if your they would sufficiently run all decent set of features. Don’t
PC BIOS supports booting of a USB flash your formulae. For audio believe us? Fire up DSL-N on
device. Most motherboards will recognize and video enthusiasts, your computer and find out
our Flash drive as an external USB ZIP it includes a version of for yourself.
device. mplayer that plays almost | Kunal Rupera
Symbian Gear
If you use your smartphone only to send and receive phone calls then it’s about time
you used some of these tools to extract the most out of it
A
ll smartphones usually need some phone uses. A quick way to find that out screenshot utility, ideal for transferring
additional application to spice is to look up www.gsmarena.com against files via Bluetooth.
it up in some way. It could be a “OS” to know the version and series it
visual feature or some application that belongs to. However, most of the tools I CellTrack - (Signal Strength)
increases your productivity. I came to have mentioned will work on a Series 60 Type: Free, OS: Symbian version 7
realize the potential of these third party phone running Symbian version 7.0. You If you are wondering why you experience
tools through a series of events that I am should also visit the “Support” section of network outages or patchy reception
going to share with you. Two years ago, www.nokia-asia.com to look for software it is probably because of a weak signal.
I owned a Nokia 3350 and at that point specifically for your phone. If you receive CellTrack will tell you how strong or weak
in time it served my purpose, which was an error while trying to run a newly the signal strength is in a particular area.
namely, to be reachable at all times of the installed application then it could be If you are not interested in knowing your
day, set reminders and use the stopwatch because it is loaded on the memory card. service provider’s signal strength then
during hardware reviews. As time went Uninstall the application and install it on you can just use “PhoneInfo”. Make sure
by, the phone started to seem a little the phone memory. this one is installed on the phone memory
outdated in the palm of my hand. I gave instead of the card. This tool will display
in to temptation and opted for the ‘candy FExplorer – File Browser your phone’s IMEI number (unique to
bar’ Sony Ericsson T630. It looked good, Type: Free, OS: Symbian version 6.1 each phone), CellId, processor speed and
fit my budget and had enough features Smartphones have their own built in file memory details.
to keep me happy. Unfortunately, it manager, which lack basic “cut/copy/paste”
turned out to have a mind of its own so functions. It only allows users to browse BlackList
it would momentarily lose control of its through some fixed folders created on the Type: Shareware, OS: Symbian version 7
‘motor functions’ and vibrate incessantly phone or card memory. FExplorer (or File There are times when you want to avoid
until I physically removed the battery. I Explorer) for Symbian phones makes it somebody’s calls—your landlord’s or your
exchanged it for a Nokia 6600 (I had to easy to travel through folders on the phone boss’, maybe. BlackList can be configured
cough up extra, of course) hoping this or card easily and quickly. This free utility to disconnect calls from certain numbers
would future-proof my phone for a while. makes saving files received via Bluetooth in your contact list. You can even add
I was doing quite well with the phone a breeze—simply because it allows you groups you have created in your address
until the day I had to run a printer test. I to browse the “Inbox” and move the files book. BlackList will not disconnect the call
took my phone out to use the stopwatch within it to another folder. Apart from the unceremoniously. The caller will get a busy
only to find out that there is no such tool user interface, the functions are similar tone every time he dials your number and
in the 6600! The phone has image editing to Windows Explorer and the keypad
software and a wireless presenter but shortcuts are helpful too. It even has a
no stopwatch. This made me scour the
Internet for an alternative solution. The
search resulted in my installing “Pocket
Counter” – a free timer tool. While
searching for a Symbian stopwatch, I
came across many other applications that
allowed the phone to do much more than
just remember notes, buzz at a particular
time and send multimedia messages.
Here are some of the tools available for
download, both free and shareware.
All these tools will work across a range
of Symbian Series 60 phones. It also
depends on the Symbian OS version your
Pramod Jadhav
FEATURE | APPLICATIONS 91
your phone will not even ring. The BlackList phone conversations automatically or studying for their GRE. To be able to use
logs will also inform you of the number of with the press of a preset button. Offline, this tool you need to subscribe to a GPRS
calls it has thwarted for you. it will even record regular conversation connection, access the Internet and
and store it on your memory card in register on www.studystack.com to create
Oxygen Phone Manager AMR or WAV format. It will even record your flash cards. These flash cards can be
multiple conversations serially instead of made public as well so that other can also
– (Backup) overwriting. For AMR playback you can download them onto their phones for
Type: Shareware, Symbian OS: 7 install “Nokia Multimedia Player”—it is reference. The web site already contains
Always make sure you have taken a backup simple and light. “Total Recall” is another material on history, math and geography.
of all your contacts on the PC. When you application that offers the same features
decide to upgrade your phone, you’ll have as Dictaphone. PDF+ - (PDF Reader)
to transfer all your contacts, messages and Type: Shareware, Symbian OS Version: 7
notes to your new phone. This is where the ETI Camcorder Pro – (Video If you don’t want to create flash cards
Oxygen Phone Manager will save you from out of your study material, you can try
the pain of losing any data. OPM works Recorder) making PDFs of your documents (or use
in conjunction with a client file installed Type: Shareware, Symbian OS Version: 7 QuickOffice on Nokia phones). Adobe also
on the phone to transfer your messages The video recorder on a Nokia phone provides a free PDF reader for Symbian
and contacts to the PC. It is a good idea to captures only a minute’s worth of video phones but it is mainly for phones running
keep these details backed up regularly in and also offers a limited set of features. Symbian OS 8.0a (Nokia 6680).
case of any eventuality. “Pro Backup” can The Camcorder Pro extends the shooting
also be used in place of OPM if you want a period by making it depend on the amount Opera 8.60, Agile Messenger
one-stop solution in phone backup. of available free space. The footage can be and IM+ Bluetooth (Online
saved in AVI or 3GP format, whichever you Applications)
Media Safe – (Folder Security) find convenient. You can edit these files Type: Free, Symbian OS Version: 7
Type: Shareware, Symbian OS version: 7 later with Acala 3GP movies—a free video If you are going to use your phone to surf
Media Safe is for the paranoid and for editing software. the Internet then you need to have the
those who don’t like people getting nosy Opera Mini installed on your phone. It is
with their personal files stored on the
MSDict Concise Oxford English free and very configurable. You can set
phone. It provides advanced security with cached images to load on a page, saving
256-bit encryption (Blowfish method) for Dictionary – (English Dictionary) your surfing time. Agile Messenger can get
audio and video. It can be used to encrypt Type: Shareware, Symbian OS Version: 7 you chatting with your friends on MSN,
files on your memory card too. This dictionary will occupy approximately ICQ, Yahoo, AOL and Google.
5 MB on your phone because it contains Quite honestly, the list is endless. Some
Dictaphone – (Voice Recorder) 240,000 words and phrases. Not only will of the applications are a little rough around
Type: Free, Symbian OS version: 7 you understand the meaning of the word, the edges but they will only get better with
You won’t have to carry your Dictaphone you will also be taught where to use it. If time as they proliferate across handsets. I
everywhere if you install “Dictaphone” on you are interested, MSDict will also tell you will leave you with a few more applications
your Series 60 phone. It can be set to record the origin of the word you looked up. that will surely interest you.
Alternative backup
It is important to maintain a copy of your hard disk partition for exact restoration in
case of a hard disk failure. There are numerous tools that help you achieve this. Here
are a few...
A
nyone who has lost data once we do have are individual products. After any difficulty. However, as far as special
knows exactly how it feels when testing the latest programs, we bring operations is concerned, these programs
a doctoral thesis or your only tax you a selection of the best out there. are sometimes inflexible to work with.
return sheet that you had taken so much We did not limit ourselves to simple test For instance, if you want to move a
time and effort to prepare is irretrievably scenarios like creating partitions and partition from a hard disk that is already
lost. According to a survey conducted by images. Instead, we used the example partitioned, only Partition Manager
Maxtor (now Seagate), about 73 percent of a power user who uses networks from Paragon is trouble-free as it does
of users suffered due to hard disk failures and runs Windows XP Professional. We so without you having to implicitly
at least once. The survey revealed that looked out for special features such as create free space on the drive. In case of
users are generally not in the habit of image encryption and backup over LAN. PartitionMagic from Symantec and Disk
taking regular data backups. In several The partition tool should also recognize Director from Acronis, you first need to
case, the hard disks were not even external USB drives. In case of special file create space before creating a partition.
partitioned. Therefore, a virus attack or systems used in Windows 2000 such as However, creating a partition using
a system crash invariably resulted in a software-based RAID controllers. In the Partition Manager is unnecessarily
complete data disaster. following test you will find out whether complicated because it does not mount
The only way of arming yourself these tools support special features a newly created partition in Windows.
against such disasters would be using a like these. This may not be a problem for experts,
hard disk suite that comprises a partition but it is definitely a major drawback for
tool and a drive image program. The Partition tools general users who expect it to happen
drive image program is your insurance All three contenders—Disk Director, automatically. Also, the partitions are
against data loss while the partition Partition Manager and PartitionMagic— hidden—so when you restart Windows,
tool provides for the logical formating are almost perfect when it comes to the partition is not displayed in Windows
and administration of the hard disk. delivering basic feature such as creating Explorer.
Unfortunately, there is no single package partitions, formating, deleting, moving, If you have a large number of
that boasts both these features but what copying and resizing images without multimedia files that you want to
on the hard disk accessible. USB hard drive is a useful storage location
When it comes to usability, Disk for the backup data. The advantages are
Director far outperforms PartitionMagic evident—the configuration is not only
and Partition Manager. For additional faster and easier, but it also lets you carry
hard disk related functions, Partition your image with you. During the tests, all
Manager offers the best set of options. the three tools provided a backup to the
It features a file explorer, which opens external USB drives and even restored the
all supported file systems. In addition, it data from these drives later.
offers the capability to edit the Master Acronis goes a step further with its
File Table (MFT). This is very practical True Image, which not only saves on a
because a lot of small files are directly network drive or a USB drive, but also
Expert tool: The Editor of Disk Director saved in the MFT under NTFS. offers an option to create a protected
allows experienced users to change entries
and hidden partition in a local disk. It
in the boot sector manually
Drive image programs is here that the images are stored. This
to undo a software RAID system. This All the three tools—Norton Ghost, True prevents users from deleting images
feature is also present in Windows XP Image and Drive Backup perform the accidentally. Although this is a neat
Professional but after the operation, it basic features of creating a partition feature, it contradicts an important rule
removes all data from the disk. image, compressing and restoring it of backups—never create a backup on the
After all of these scenarios, it is over a network. Therefore, if one PC same drive.
essential that the partitions remain stable which is part of a home network fails, It is a myth that each backup must
because if they crash, it will result in a you can restore a backup from another contain the complete data of the
complete data loss. Through the tests PC connected to the same network. partition. Incremental backups provide
we conducted, only Disk Director proved However, differences would arise in the a backup of only the changes made
to be resilient against system crashes partition depending upon the system since the last image. This is a feature
but only as long as it had nothing to do configurations. offered by all the three tools, resulting
with logical drives. In this case, Partition First up, Symantec Ghost 10 uses a in efficient use of space. However, this
Manager failed to redistribute free space special Windows version (Windows PE) is only useful if you don’t restore a basic
on the drive—a rather easy operation. for its restoration console. No problems system frequently, and would instead like
The progress bar was stuck on 0 percent arose during restoration and there were to add important data like pictures, MP3s,
and we had to end the task by rebooting. no hitches in the connection to the documents and so on a regular basis.
Partition Manager returned the same network. However, we did not get the Encrypted partitions were supported
results even after restarting. same results with Paragon Drive Backup by all of these programs during the tests.
Then, we also tried to restore deleted 7, which uses a Linux system for its Protection is top priority not only for
NTFS partitions using PartitionMagic. The console and takes a while to configure to backup but for other features as well. It
program kept throwing up “error 117” and a network. Restoring a network backup is thus important for each program to
repeatedly shut down. Only Disk Director with Acronis True Image 9 was even provide an option of backing up the
could detect the lost NTFS partitions tougher as it does not have an input image with a password, which in
and restore them. Disk Director was also window for a network password; so turn protects the image against any
successful in making other applications access was denied to the backup on the unauthorized access, a feature supported
network. An external storage device like a by all the three.
The interface of Paragon Drive Backup 7 drive image tool is very complicated especially for
beginners
The Symantec Ghost 10 application displays the available backup size very clearly in a
window
Chat Security
Chatting online is dangerous. After tormenting e-mails and browsers, hackers have
now turned their attention to instant messengers. With ICQ and other IMs installed,
is your PC well protected from viruses, spyware and phishing?
“H
ey, I’ve found a picture of CHIP has tested six instant messengers, the hacker is free to enter the system and
you.” If you were conned into including the latest Beta versions from download any information or file which
clicking on this link, then you Microsoft and Yahoo. We bombarded test is of particular interest to him. If that
won’t get an image file instead an I-Worm. accounts with infected links in an attempt isn’t bad enough, hackers usually insert
NewPic file instead. Any guesses what kind to penetrate firewalls and exploit chat a backdoor which leaves the victim’s PC
of a file this is? A classic backdoor spoof, sessions and the results were astonishing. open to attacks in the future.
it prepares an entry point for hackers to The security holes left open by instant Phishing in messengers works in
retrieve data from victims. messengers were extremely dangerous. pretty much the same way as in the case
The Internet mafia has made instant Worse still, not one messenger managed of phishing-mails. A common phishing
messenger applications its new target and to offer protection for child users. In this practice would be to lure a victim to
has started spreading malicious programs article, we discuss the methods used by a false web site and thereby lead him
through them. According to research Internet hackers and how you can avoid into providing personal online banking
conducted by ‘FaceTime Security Labs’, the potential threats while chatting online. information. The recent case of AOL
number of attacks on chat programs have and MSN messengers being attacked by
increased 20-fold in the last year alone. Phishing and spyware the ‘Maniccum’ worm provides further
The hacker’s current favourite is Hackers exploit the natural curiosity in evidence of the increasing rate of phishing
Microsoft’s MSN Messenger although humans in order to plant Trojans and steal attacks through instant messengers.
ICQ, Yahoo, and AOL are all experiencing passwords. Usually, users are sent a short
increasing attacks as well. A poll recently message which contains a link to a ‘photo’ Dangers: Advice not to open files from
revealed that nearly 50 percent of online or ‘video clip.’ When the user clicks on this unknown senders is already outdated with
chatting via instant messaging is done in link, an embedded micro-program will newer worms choosing to directly take
the office, thereby allowing attackers to put a stop to any safety and protection advantage of a user’s contacts list. Expect
slip through enterprise networks, firewalls program that may be running. to receive messages asking you to ‘click on
and other available protection. After the programs are suspended, this image link to view a photo’ from your
| Security Check
Be cautious with links and download
Don’t accept files from unknown
senders. If the file is sent from a
friend, verify this with them before
downloading the file.
Installing updates
Spyware and Trojans may gain access
to your PC through any messenger
program. It exploits the same security
hole that Windows has. Remember to
Security through encryption: Encrypt your chat conversations with SimpLite to prevent frequently run automatic updates to
hackers from getting access to them
cover these holes.
friend or colleague listed on your contacts targeted as much as other programs all Activate firewall and virus scanner
list. More impressively, there are worms this while, it doesn’t mean they are safe Without a firewall, the PC is more
which can participate in chat sessions and from attacks. Most of the time users vulnerable to attacks from hackers.
answer basic questions accurately leading chat using a specific instant messenger. Virus scanners may also provide extra
users to believe that they are chatting with When this becomes a hacker’s target, it protection for your PC.
real people. becomes your main cause for concern. To Don’t allow others to spy on you
attack a chat client through the Internet, Each conversation you have could be
Solution: As currently there are no existing hackers need to penetrate security holes recorded. You should encrypt your chat
tools to filter spam or phishing effectively, open to them. For a chat program, that conversation with a tool like SimpLite.
the most important safety principle defence breach is in the form of ports
would be NOT to open ANY links sent used for sending or receiving Internet How we test IMs
through chat windows. If you really need packets. The typical scenario would be a Phishing filters, child protection, update
to click on that link or receive a sent file, buffer-overflow attack when the packets functions, and encryptions merit extra
confirm whether the sender wants you start transferring. Here, the hacker sends a marks. Facilities to block unknown senders
to do so first. Formulate your question in packet which gets misinterpreted by and the messenger’s ability to work with
a way that worms will not be able to give the target’s PC and therefore allows a a firewall or virus scanner are important
questions with standard replies. You can Trojan to run. factors as well.
also try installing basic protection from
new Internet security suites available in Dangers: Half of the messengers tested by Survey
Which chat program do you use?
the market. CHIP did not offer any software updates 40
even with known security threats. The 35
30.43 %
Bugs open doors to hackers dangers of not plugging these holes have 30 35.59 %
Source: www.chip.de
25
Any program that connects to the Internet already been made known to many web 20 14.70 %
has a possible risk of being attacked. sites that offer hacker tools. Exploiting 15 14.49 %
10 1.03 %
Even if instant messengers have not been this security could not only cause the
5 2.93 %
messenger to crash, but might affect 0.83 %
| Test Summary Windows as well. For script-kiddies
0
AOL Google
Messenger Talk
ICQ Microsoft
Messenger
Trillian Yahoo
Messenger
Others
We seldom get so many negative results or a newbie this might be a tad too From this global survey, we can see that
from one batch of programs, but this is complicated, but for expert hackers, this is ICQ is still the hot favorite.
indeed a fact. Microsoft Live Messenger a cakewalk.
Attack Watch
which won the test also faltered at two
Attacks on Messenger
important Security Check points. The Solution: Maintain the quality of your
PROGNOSIS
Source: FaceTime Security Labs
900
test showed that chat clients created messenger program. It’s best to use an
800
a hole in the firewall which could be IM with automatic update functions 700
600
exploited as an entry point for hackers. such as the one found on Microsoft’s 500
Before fixing or upgrading, we advise Live Messenger. Other tools such as AOL 400
300
you to stop using Internet messengers and Trillian also have their own update 200
if your PC or network contains sensitive functions. If you are chatting through 100
0
information. Not only at workplaces, Yahoo Messenger, Google or ICQ, you Q1 ’05 Q2 ’05 Q3 ’05 Q4 ’05 Q1 ’06 Q2 ’06
users at homes should also learn to should regularly check their web sites to Since early 2005, the number of attacks on
protect themselves. download the latest versions. The lack of IMs has increased dramatically.
an automatic update feature is an several instances where children not to save a conversation log file in the
obvious weakness and should be below 12 years of age chat on the first place. Most programmes allow this
made compulsory for all instant internet without any restriction. feature to be turned off.
messengers. Our tests proved that none On Microsoft, AOL, and ICQ, the
of the instant messengers logging function must be activated
Children targeted prevent this from occurring manually. As long as you didn’t turn it
“They act like children to either. If the date of birth is on, you’re safe. For other messengers,
gain the kid’s trust”, said not provided by a registering the log file setting can be done during
Joerg Pecanic, an authority user, there is no way providers setup. If you fail to turn this feature
from Coalition Against Child Pornography can identify their age. Moreover, even if the off, the program automatically creates
when asked about paedophiles on the date of birth was keyed in, there still isn’t unencrypted log files.
Internet. Despite severe criticism from any mechanism in place to verify whether Google Talk gives an extra line of
security experts, many chat programs the provided age is true or not. defence for protection against hackers.
have still not adopted any security By default, all your conversation logs are
mechanism such as having a master Solution: Parents should explain the saved in your Gmail account server. This
password for required for setup. ICQ, dangers of chatting online to their kids. means, your log files will not be obtained
for instance, has an option to block They should realize the importance of even if a hacker gains access to your PC.
any unknown contacts from sending setting clear guidelines and should tell If you’re conscious about saving a copy
messages. However, curious children will their kids not to meet other chat users of your conversations in spite of these
not find it difficult to deselect a checkbox. in person. risks, then use an open-source tool called
All other IMs have also failed in this child TrueCrypt. With the help of this tool, you
protection test. Who knows your secrets? can create an encrypted drive and install
Technically, chat providers can spy on messenger there. Every time you start up
Dangers: Instead of coming up with a your conversations but no one actually the PC and want to start a conversation,
solution for providing security for children, pays attention to this fact. In ICQ’s you will be prompted to access the drive
providers dodge the responsibility and EULA, it is stated that instant messenger with a password. That’s not all. Whether
cover their own ignorance with a special providers are legally allowed to read your your private conversations are being
clause found on their End User License conversations. Any information sent recorded or not, you still have the lurking
Agreement (EULA) which states, “Kids through the provider may also be publicly fear that the messages you are sending
under the age of 12 may not use this published. The EULA from ICQ says clearly, over the Internet are being read. To solve
service”. If it comes to attention that a “You agree that ICQ Inc has the rights that problem, you should install a plugin
registered user is a child under 12 years to use any material sent… including or tool such as SimpLite, which can
of age, the provider cancels that user’s publishing it”. encrypt the data while it traverses.
account. This is not a measure to prevent SimpLite can be used on any
kids from creating accounts. There are Dangers: Regardless of which instant messenger program which supports a
messenger you are using, data transfers firewall. It allows you to create a strong
between participants are not encrypted. cryptographic key which protects
Besides that, any chat session can be messages traveling in and out of chat
stored in a log file which may be read by programs from being attacked. In case
other users of the PC. It’s not only the of most chat clients, the configuration is
providers you should be worried about automatically set. However, lesser known
but hackers too. Usually hackers attack chat programs need to be configured
hotspots and cybercafes. To spy on one’s manually.
conversation, the hacker has to be within
the same network as that of the IM user. Trojans posing as chat programs
Tools such as Ethereal or Cain & Abel The first voice-chat program to have
allow the hacker to record all of the con- become popular with users is VoIP Skype.
versation data and proceed to filter out It’s been a while that users around the
sensitive information such as passwords world have been communicating over
or home addresses. Skype and ever since then security experts
have warned of the possibility of attacks
Phishing: Links or file names like Humor.txt Solution: You can prevent hackers from by Trojans and bots pretending to be
intend to deceive the curious user. Little do reading your conversations by encrypting normal chat or VoIP programs. The MyTob
they know the ‘humorous’ joke is on them
your chat and log file. The easiest way is bot is one such example.
Dangers: Malware infects the system and administrators decide to block all chatting will also be of no help. The best form of
allows the hacker to assimilate all the activities, surely the Internet will be protection is offered by security suites,
conversation data without letting the user a safer place. However, this can only firewalls and updated virus scanners.
know about it and therefore the firewall be realistically implemented in offices Needless to say, even with the latest
is not able to prevent these packets from rather than home users. So if you intend updated protection programs (Recently,
entering your system. to continue chatting online, it’s best to Symantec released an enhanced security
use a proxy or firewall with password suite catering specially to instant
Solution: Security experts have warned protection. However, if a Trojan gains messengers) there will always be newer
against the use of chat programs. If access to the data stream then passwords Trojans and viruses released by hackers.
| Loh Ken Wei
Hacker’s paradise: Programs like Ethereal allows a hacker to easily spy on a chat
conversation over the Internet
Dddddddddd
Dr. CHIP
Dr. CHIPGarbled display memory that is failing – if you have two
Mobile screenshotsmodules (of 128 MB each) then
Q> I own an Intel 865- until you move it som
either
based computer with one or both are faulty. If it isn’t the RAM
Q> I use a Symbian-based cellular instance to a memo
a Pentium 4 running then it could be the memory slots on
phone.
at 2.4GHzIt andalso
512has anthe in-built
motherboarddigital memory.
that is the reason. The
camera.
MB of memory.I have tried only
I have takingway screenshots
to find out is to actually remove
been intermittently your RAM modules and try them one at
of my phone’s screen but when I
experiencing a strange a time in different RAM slots. This will
take a look
problem with my at the result,
isolateitthealways
problem area. If swapping
appearsThere
computer. completely slots different.
does notIthelp
is as
and you only have a
are times when my single 512 MB memory module then try
if the phone’s capture utility ‘sees’ totally
computer’s display replacing your memory with a working
different colors!
goes berserk. The graphics The image
one. is neither
If you cannot get hold of one
smooth
become totallynor accurate
illegible and in terms
module of its colorthen you will need
temporarily
gets transformed into gibberish. to give your memory/motherboard to a
reproduction. Are there some tweaks or
It looks like something out of technician.
some
a movie. The settings
problem seems that have been overlooked?
to be worsening as the display XP Activation Problem -Atul
has started getting garbled right Q> The strangest thing happened the
Just like the times when you need
after initial boot screen. When other day. I had to reinstall Windows XP
to capture
the problem wasn’t thatan entire
bad I PC screenProfessionalandbecause
you hitof a virus. After the
the ‘PrintScreen’
had reinstalled the video drivers button,reinstallation
there is a similar
I tried activating my copy
thinkingutility
that it would help. But it of
for the mobile phone. Download Windows XP but it refused to do so. I
did not. What could the problem be? kept getting an error saying, “exceeded
‘ScreenTaker’ from www.symbianware.
- Sanjay number of installations”. I have reinstalled
com. After installation, you only need
and activated tothe past but
XP in The
thisentire
is image dis
You are experiencing
run it and read a hardware the firstClick
the directions. time I ‘Hide’
have ever receivedcanandbe captured usin
related problem. If the video is getting SymbianWare
an error like this. I never knew there was
to hide the application before
garbled even before Windows XP boots
capturing
such a thing as an “activation limit”. What
onHands on
screenshots.
then it has nothing to do with the Now videoall youdohave to do is
I do now? Remove old restore
drivers installed in Windows. You will
run the application that you would like to Q>- IMaheep
am running out
need to check the memory installed
capture from or any other items
on your motherboard. It could be the
displayed. my computer. After
Yes, disappointing as it sounds
By pressing the combination there isofan‘ABC+
activation limit thataround
MicrosoftI found that
| How to Read the Code
Menu Key’ or ‘ABC+ *’, ScreenTaker has set to thewilloperating
snapsystem. After
“_restore{05BB0736
installing the operating system you need
All code lines theandscreen. On Nokia
commands are phones, the ABC key D92F52FD225C}”. W
to activate the installation within 30
written in the following manner:
has a pencil icon. If donedays. correctly, youofwill delete this folder? It
A maximum three activations
netsh•int•ip•reset•tcpreset.txt
can be carried out in these 30 days.MB!
700 ApartSomeone t
where the •get a menu
symbol denotes toanamespace. the image captured.
from this, Microsoft allows only eight to
This code
Hence, the above image linewill then
should be be stored (default scr. something to do wit
eleven activations per product – which
typed as utility
jpg). When the text ‘Image Saved’
is what appears,
you might have exceeded. It in XP and rem
netsh<space>int<space>ip<space
press ‘Back’. You can seecould
>reset<space>tcpreset<dot>txt
also happen
the results if you change
in the your
advisable. What sho
hardware. For this you should get in touch
‘Images’ folder on your phone. ScreenTaker
will store the image in the phone’s memory
INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBERYes,
2006 the folde
Does your USB hub obtain power This might be because the device
from the notebook? It should be able to is not “Plug and Play” or it does not use
I
t has become very important to keep an We all know security cannot prevent any wireless IP camera from Level1. We opted for
eye on your house considering the stories crime from being committed but at least this camera as it best suits the requirements
we hear frequently on how easily houses you’ve the satisfaction that the accused of home users and small businesses. It is also
are broken into. Also, it is necessary to keep will not be scot free. Today with terrorism quite affordable when compared to other
a watch over all the happenings inside on the rise, devices like CCTV cameras and devices in the same category. This camera is
your house, be it keeping an eye on your monitoring devices like proximity detectors, a video surveillance device that makes use of
children or the servants or the front door for motion detectors, metal detectors, etc are Internet Protocol (IP) to transmit images. It
instance to see if anyone has meandered in being used extensively. These devices are also supports the 802.11g standard, enabling
the premises. Also, keeping an eye on the easily available in the market. These can be wireless transmission for video surveillance.
surroundings is something you have to do connected easily to your PC or notebook It can be connected to a high-speed 10/100
if you live alone or spend most of the day and can record videos and take pictures of Mbps LAN.
alone in the house. In this workshop we tell intrusions if any, while you’re away. You can record VGA quality video at 10
you how to monitor your home easily. In this workshop, we used the WCS-2030 fps at the highest resolution of 640x480
and directly save it as a MPEG4 file. Being
entry-level, this cam doesn’t have a zoom
or swivel feature present in other expensive
CCTV cameras. However, this feature
is not required for home or small office
surveillance. The built-in microphone records
audio at 24-bit; it can also capture audio
within a range of 10 meters with very little
background noise.
The surveillance software bundled along
is capable of letting you view 16 different
live feeds at a time. You can view these
feeds in a 4x4 matrix simultaneously. The
motion detection system takes pictures
only when there is a movement in the line
of sight of the cam and thus doesn’t take up
unnecessary space on your hard drive. You
can also schedule recordings.
First configure the camera while Insert the installation disk into the After you have finished installing the
it is connected to your PC via an CD-ROM drive. In case it doesn’t run surveillance software, you will need
Ethernet cable. Connect one end of automatically, click on “Start” on the to change one of the IE settings so
the Ethernet cable to the PC and the lower left corner of your screen and open that you are ready to start running
other end to the camera’s Ethernet “My Computer”. Then double click on the Monitor program. Enable the
port. After connecting the Ethernet the CD-ROM icon and the IP surveillance option for submitting non-encrypted
cable, connect the power adapter to recorder installation window will appear data after clicking on “Start | Settings
the camera otherwise the camera as in Figure 1. Click on “Install Software | Control Panel | Internet Options |
won’t get detected. Plug the adapter DVR”. Next, set a password and confirm Security | Custom Level”. After the new
into an electrical outlet. A blue LED will it—this will be your administrator window opens up, search for the “Run
flash while the camera is initializing password. Select the location where component signed with Authenticode”
after which you are ready to set up the you want to install the files and click on and then click on “Enable” as shown in
software for the camera. “Next” and then on “Finish”. the above screenshot.
Step 4 Authentication Step 5 Monitoring window Step 6 Alerts and recording options
The next step is to click on “Launcher”. A new window will open up which asks On the top of the monitoring window,
This step walks the user through the for the camera’s IP address and once the you have the alert and recording
process of configuring the camera. PC detects it, the monitoring window will window. In the alert window settings,
The first things it will ask you for is the open up. If you want to use more than enable motion detection and specify
username and password. This is known one such camera, then use the “Insert” the recording time or recording type i.e.
as the Root username and password and option to insert a remote Network whether you want to record video or
is used to authenticate users once the Camera to the camera list. Click on the voice or both. Here you can also configure
camera is connected. To further configure “Insert” button, and you will see the the video input—for example, specifying
the camera, you will need to log in using “Insert New Channel” dialog popping alerts for motion detection and also the
these details. You can then proceed to up. Specify the IP address, port and root type of triggering you want for the digital
configuring the Server/Network Camera password of the remote Network Camera input. Once this configuration is over, the
in the “Camera Configuration” option, as series product, and click on the “OK” camera is ready to record.
shown in the figure in step 2. button to close the dialog box. | Faheem Sayed
Image makeover
If all the scanned images of your last trip seem blurred,
dull and lifeless, you can color-correct them with a little
help from Photoshop
H
ave you ever compared a scanned The most visible difference will be a slight
image with the original source? loss of sharpness and mismatch in color
You’ll notice that the scanned levels, brightness and contrast. In some
image is never as accurate as the source cases you will even notice the presence of
with regard to details like sharpness, color, noise in the scanned image.
contrast, brightness, saturation and so The only way to correct scanned images
on. The results will be close to accurate is using a power imaging application like
only if you have a high-end scanner which Adobe Photoshop. You can eliminate noise,
is properly color-calibrated. However, sharpen the details, manipulate color
for most of us who own neither a multi- levels, adjust the brightness and contrast
functional device nor a conventional and do much more to bring your scanned
flatbed scanner, getting accurate results is images nearer to the original.
a distant dream. The reason that most people hesitate
The accuracy of a scanner depends on to correct scanned images is because they
the quality of its CCD sensor and the lamp feel that Photoshop is tough to use or
present on the carriage assembly. The they’re afraid they might do more damage.
better the CCD sensor, the more details it But in reality, it’s very simple. You don’t
can register and hence, higher the output have to be a wizard at Photoshop. It takes
quality. Other than the scanner itself, just a few minutes to correct an image. This
the output also depends on the post- workshop will guide you through the entire
processing done by the imaging application process of correcting scanned images from
that comes bundled with the scanner. scratch and achieving the best results.
Since, most of the factors that determine
the output quality cannot be controlled, | Note
you have no other option but to save the Before trying this workshop, make sure
scanned image as it is. you first calibrate your monitor so that
If you haven’t yet bothered to check the it displays colors accurately with right
difference between the scan result and levels of brightness and contrast. You
the source try this—scan a photograph can use the Adobe Gamma Tool which is
and compare the scanned image with the a part of Photoshop, for calibrating and
actual photograph and note the difference. profiling your monitor.
1 2 3
If your scanned image is tilted, first After fixing the tilt, crop the required The “Dust and scratches” filter gets rid of
rectify the tilt: area using the Crop tool from the Tools most of the noise. However, if you take a
Right-click on the image and select sidebar. The actual image correction closer look at the image, you’ll still see a
“Fit on Screen” after selecting the process starts now. In the first stage, get little bit of noise. To get rid of this, use the
Zoom tool from the Tools sidebar. rid of the noise in the scanned image. Gaussian Blur filter.
Keep pressing “Shift+i” until the Go to “Filter | Noise” and select the Go to “Filter | Blur” and select
Eyedropper tool located above the “Dust and scratches” filter “Gaussian Blur”.
Zoom tool changes to Measure tool. Set the Radius to 1 pixel keeping the Set the radius between 0.3 to 0.5
Now, drag a line across the border of Threshold to 0 level. pixels. Check and uncheck the
the scanned image and select “Image You can check and uncheck the “Preview” option to notice the effect
| Rotate canvas | Arbitrary”. “Preview” option to view the effect. of the plug-in. Keep the radius low or
Click on “OK” to rectify the tilt. Click on “OK” to apply the filter. else it may affect image details.
4 5 6
Applying the Gaussian Blur results in a If you have Photoshop CS2 installed, Finally, it’s the overall tone of the image
slight loss of details. To compensate for you can go a step further and use which has to be corrected. The easiest
this, you need to sharpen the image. the “Surface blur” filter. This filter is way to correct the colors is by using the
Go to “Filter | Sharpen” and select the useful for further eliminating noise and “Auto contrast” feature. To do this go to
“Unsharp mask” filter. graininess. It uses the blur effect while “Image | Adjustments” and select “Auto
In the filter’s dialog box, set the preserving the sharpness of the edges. contrast” or simply use the keyboard
radius to 2 or 4 pixels with the Go to “Filter | Blur” and select shortcut “Alt+Shift+Ctrl+L”. You’ll
threshold set to 0. “Surface blur”. immediately notice the increase in
Now drag the amount slider to 25 Set the radius to 1 pixel and set the vibrance. If you’re familiar with Adobe
percent and note the difference using threshold value to 27. Photoshop you can even try adjusting
the “Preview” option. The value If you aren’t satisfied, you can further the color levels manually.
should be between 25 to 30 percent. increase the threshold by 3 to 5 levels. | Anand Tuliani
G
one are the days when a television set even grab songs playing on the radio to MP3
and a DVD player were considered the format. Last but not the least, a media center PC
best home entertainment devices. is a full-fledged PC. Apart from entertainment
Today, the entire scenario is beginning to take a you can use it for gaming, surfing the net,
sharp turn with media center PCs being the most imaging, video editing, burning CDs and DVDs,
powerful entertainment platform. It’s true that office suite and so on.
DivX players can play diverse audio and video Media center PCs are available off the shelves
formats. Most of them even have provision for in the market. But you have to stick with what the
digital multi-channel audio and digital video manufacturers offer. If you don’t want to settle
outputs. But at the end of the day, there’s for a branded media center PC, the only option
nothing to beat a PC that integrates hundreds of you have is to build one yourself. In fact, building
other functions. a media center PC is the best option because
The biggest advantage that a PC enjoys is you have the choice of components such as the
the presence of a storage device on which you graphics card, hard drive, processor, motherboard,
can store hundreds of movies and thousands monitor and so on. You can build a media center
of songs and photographs. A television set only PC that can double up as a gaming machine. Or
allows you to surf channels or connect your you can build a PC with a fixed budget in mind.
gaming console. But a computer gives you the The reason why most people refrain from
flexibility of pausing live TV and capturing your building a media center PC is the availability of
favorite programs at the press of a button. What suitable hardware and Windows XP MCE. The
if you feel like tuning into your favorite radio reality is, you can build a powerful media center
station? With a media center PC, there’s no need PC using standard hardware without the need for
for a separate radio set – all the functions are Windows XP MCE. Read this workshop to find out
integrated in a single box. If you wish, you can how it’s possible!
What you need In case of the processor, memory, hard graphics card, and TV tuner card, you are
There are various components that go into drive, optical drive, monitor and speakers, restricted to very few models as they
builing a PC. But in case of a media center you can take your pick depending on should fit into the case.
PC, you need a collection of certain specific your requirement. But with regards The table below elaborates what
components. to components like the motherboard, specific components you need and why.
40 mm side fan
Outlet for the power cord Standard PCI & PCIE cards can be IGP-based Hard drive mounted
fitted using the riser card Micro ATX motherboard in the rack
WINDOWS 117
1. Windows XP Removing Shared Documents 117
2. Windows XP Removing My Sharing Folders 117
3. Windows XP Preventing auto-run of CDs/DVDs 117
4. Windows XP Commands & shortcuts 117
APPLICATIONS 117
5. Microsoft Word Batch print Word documents 117
Umesh Dahiwalkar
6. Microsoft Word Customizing dropdown menus 117
7.
Tip of the month | Hardware Microsoft Word Text animation 117
8. Microsoft Word Increasing the recently used file list 118
Front audio connection 9. Microsoft Word Obtaining the file size of current document 118
My PC’s case has a front audio panel, but it 10. Microsoft PowerPoint Package your presentations 118
doesn’t give any output. This causes a lot of 11. Media Player Reducing cache for Winamp 118
inconvenience when I want to hook up my
headphones to the PC. How do I get the front
INTERNET & COMMUNICATION 120
audio working? 12. Adobe Acrobat Speeding up Acrobat reader 120
13. Download Manager Optimizing Flashget 120
For the front audio panel to work, it 14. Download Manager Auto virus scan in Flashget 120
must be connected to the front audio header 15. Web Browser Removing Thunderbird from the taskbar 120
of your motherboard. If your front audio 16. Mozilla Thunderbird Accessing Gmail through Mozilla Thunderbird 120
doesn’t work, it means that the front audio 17. Mozilla Thunderbird Viewing message headers 121
panel of your case isn’t interfaced with the 18. Opera Sorting downloads by file types 121
motherboard. 19. Opera Reading mail in full browser window 121
To get the front audio panel working, first 20. Outlook Accessing Gmail via Outlook 122
open your case and locate the front audio 21. Internet Explorer Disabling automatic resizing of images 122
22. Internet Explorer Removing username/password
header on your motherboard by referring to
for a site 122
the user manual. By default, the front audio
23. Internet Connection Sharing Sharing your Internet connection in
header has two jumpers fitted. Remove these
Windows XP 122
jumpers and then refer to your motherboard’s
24. Adobe Illustrator CS Applying colors on multiple outlines 123
manual for the front audio panel connection.
25. Adobe Illustrator CS Reducing anchor points 123
Since the connectors of the case’s front audio 26. Adobe Illustrator CS Editing images on a layer 124
panel are labelled, connecting them shouldn’t
be a problem. If done correctly, both the
HARDWARE 124
rear and the front panel audio should work
27. Storage Optimum use of the IDE channels 124
without any problem.
28. PC Handling internal PC components 124
Windows 4 | Windows XP saved. Make sure only the files you want to
1 | Windows XP Commands & shortcuts print are placed in that folder.
Removing Shared Documents Can you give me a useful list of “Run” Click on “File | Save As”. In the “File
How do I remove the “Shared commands for Windows XP, and shortcuts Name” field, enter the file name along
Documents” folder from My Computer? for Microsoft Word? with its extension—all within quotes.
For example, if this script is to be
To eliminate the Shared Documents Useful Run commands for Windows named “Print All” then this is what you
folder from My Computer: XP are: should type (with quotes): “Print All.
Launch the registry editor by typing devmgmt.msc – Device Manager vbs” and click on “Save”.
“Regedit” in “Start | Run” fsquirt - Bluetooth Transfer Wizard Now, whenever you want to print files
Now navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_ desk.cpl – Display Properties from the “Test” folder (for example),
MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\ main.cpl – Mouse Properties all you need to do is double click on
Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\ gpedit.msc - Group Policy Editor “Print All.vbs” and it will run the print
MyComputer\NameSpace\ compmgmt.msc - Computer Management command on all the files without you
DelegateFolders Some of the useful Word shortcuts are: having to manually select and right
“DelegateFolders” has a subkey: Ctrl + Shift + W - Underlines the words but click on them.
{59031a47-3f72-44a7-89c5- not the spaces in the selection.
5595fe6b30ee}. Once you delete this Shift + F7 - Finds a synonym for the 6 | Microsoft Word
subkey, the Shared Documents folder selected word (Thesaurus). Customizing dropdown menus
displayed in My Computer will be Ctrl+D - Brings up the “Format | Font” Can I animate the dropdown menus in
gone. The effect is immediate. You dialog. Word?
don’t need to reboot your PC.
APPLICATIONS To customize dropdown menus:
2 | Windows XP 5 | Microsoft Word Click on the “Tools” menu and choose
Removing My Sharing Folders Batch print Word documents “Customize”.
After installing Windows Live Messenger, I mainly work on Microsoft Word On the multi-tabbed dialog box that
a new item called “My Sharing Folders” documents. There are times when I follows, select the “Options” tab.
has appeared under My Computer. How need to print a whole bunch of Word Next to “Menu animations”, you will
do I remove it? documents at a go. Is there a way I can find a pulldown menu. Click on the
quickly send all files to print without pulldown menu and select from the
Go to “Start | Run” and type the having to open each one separately? options “Random”, “Unfold”, and
following command and press [Enter]: “Slide”. Then, press the “Close” button.
regsvr32 -u “C:\Program Files\MSN Making multiple Word documents
Messenger\fsshext.8.0.0xxx.00.dll” print with a single command is quite 7 | Microsoft Word
where “xxx” is the version of MSN Live straightforward. Text animation
Messenger (found in “Help | About All you need to do is open Windows How do I use different underlines and also
Messenger”) Explorer, select the files, right click and animate text in Word?
If you get a message saying, select “Print”. This is one way of doing
“DllUnregisterServer in ... succeeded”, it things. Multiple Word files can also be To animate text in Word:
means everything went fine. printed with the help of a VB script. Highlight the text with your mouse,
When this script is run, it references a then right-click and select “Font”.
3 | Windows XP particular folder (which you set in the Now, underneath the “Underline
Preventing auto-run of CDs/DVDs script) and prints all the files in it. Style” pulldown, select your desired
How do I prevent CDs and DVDs from To create the script, open “Notepad” underline type. You can use a solid line,
auto-running when I insert them into the and copy these lines, dashes, waves, and more. Underneath
optical drive? set shApp = createobject(“shell. “Underline Color”, you can turn
application”) underlines into a different color other
It is very irritating when CDs and set shFolder = shApp.namespace(“C:\Test”) than the normal text color.
DVDs auto-run particularly when you set shItems = shFolder.Items() Check out the “Preview” section to see
don’t want them to. So the next time you for each shItem in shItems how your underline will look.
insert a disc into the optical drive, close shItem.invokeverb “&Print” To animate your text, select the font
the drive tray keeping the “Shift” key next you want to animate and right click on
pressed and release it after the drive’s LED “C:\Test” can be replaced with the path the text.
stops flashing. where the Word files you want to print are Click on “Font” on the multi-tabbed
dialog box that follows, and select When the “Properties” multi-tabbed “Viewer” in the package. This will
“Text Effects”. dialog box appears, select “General”. require the Office CD or download it
Now, select an effect for the text and Next to “Size”, you can view the current from the Microsoft web site. That’s
press “OK” when you’re done. document’s file size on disk. all; the folder is ready to be saved on
Note: These animated effects will not be CD or external storage. Now you will
visible while printing. 10 | Microsoft PowerPoint need to unpack it on your destination
Package your presentations computer. Any changes made to the
8 | Microsoft Word I need to take my PowerPoint presentation after the packaging
Increasing the recently used file presentation to my college. I am worried means you will have to repeat the
list that the campus computer might not process again.
Can I make Word remember more number have the fonts and styles that I have used. Unpacking the presentation:
of files that I opened in the file menu? Should I take the font types with me also? There are multiple files in the folder
where the packaged presentation has
Normally, when you click on “File”, There is a way you can take your been stored.
Microsoft Word 2003 will show you the PowerPoint presentation with you Double click on “pngsetup.exe”. The
names of the last four files used. If you wherever you go without the fear of unpacking begins with the Pack and
want, you can increase this list up to 9. unavailable fonts or even the application Go setup.
Select “Tools” and then on “Options”. itself. PowerPoint has a feature known Select the destination folder where
When the multi-tabbed “Options” as Pack and Go (in Office 2000/XP) or the presentation should be unpacked.
dialog-box appears, click on the Package for CD (in Office 2003), which lets Once the unpacking is complete,
“General” tab. you do this. you only need to double click on the
Next to the text “Recently used file presentation to start it. If you have
list”, enter 9. to use the PowerPoint viewer, then
Click on “OK” to close the dialog box. double click on that first to install it.
If you use Office 2003 then it is
9 | Microsoft Word referred to as the Package for CD
Obtaining the file size of current feature. If you use Windows XP then
document it directly allows you to package
How can I obtain the current document’s the presentation on to the CD. The
file size without going back to Windows 10 Select PowerPoint Viewer if the CD will auto-run the PowerPoint
Explorer? destination computer does not have it viewer to display the presentation. It
installed
To obtain the current document’s file also provides the option to save the
size, save the current document. In Office 2000/XP: package to a folder on the computer.
Use “File | Save” or “File | Save As” Open your presentation and click on
if you haven’t already given the “File | Pack and Go”. You will, in all 11 | Media Player
document a name or want to save a probability, be prompted to install this Winamp
backup copy. feature. Go ahead with the installation When I use Winamp for a long time my PC
Once the file has been saved, choose and keep the Office CD, just in case. becomes sluggish. Is there any way I can
“File | Properties”. The Pack and Go wizard will appear. use Winamp and still make my PC work
Follow the wizard and select the faster?
presentation you want to take with
you to another location. While playing files on Winamp, your
Select the destination folder for the PC slows down because Winamp starts
packaged files. Make sure you have a using the cache to save up all your MP3 files
folder created specially for this. It is being played in your Winamp player. You
better to use a USB storage device or a can reduce the amount of cache you want
CD instead of spanning a presentation Winamp to use while saving these files.
across many floppies. Open up your “system.ini” file, which
If you are using linked files and True can be found in the Windows directory.
Type fonts in your presentation, check Find the line entitled “[vcache]”, and
“Include linked files” and “Embed True add these lines given below:
Type fonts”. [vcache]
If the destination computer does MaxFileCache=X
not have PowerPoint, include the MinFileCache=Y
Where X and Y are the largest and smallest am using Flashget to manage downloads. Thunderbird doesn’t have a built-in
sizes, you want to allow for the file cache Besides pausing and resuming downloads, option to minimize it to the system tray.
(in kilobytes) respectively. I suggest what are its other useful features? But there are some third party utilities
putting in a value that is about 25 percent with which you can do this. One such nifty
of your system’s RAM. Restart Windows When using a dialup connection, utility is Thunderbird-Tray, which you can
for these effects to take effect. what worries you the most is the thought find on this month’s CHIP Tools CD.
of getting exorbitant telephone bills. After installing Thunderbird-Tray, it
12 | Adobe Acrobat Downloading in parts by pausing and sits in the system tray. You can launch
Speeding up Acrobat reader resuming downloads is the best way to Thunderbird.
My Adobe Acrobat files (PDF) take a long download huge files. Other than this, Now, when you minimize Thunderbird,
time to open. How do I speed up the you can instruct Flashget to hang up it will minimize to the system tray
process? the telephone line when downloads get instead of the taskbar. The context
completed. To enable this feature: menu also gives an option to instantly
PDF files take time to open because Go to the “Tools” menu and select the compose an e-mail message.
Adobe Acrobat reader loads all the plug-ins option “Hang up when done”. This way you
at the startup. However, you can disable need not be at your computer when your 16 | Mozilla Thunderbird
the plug-ins from loading in order to files are downloading. Accessing Gmail through Mozilla
decrease the time required for Acrobat You can also tell Flashget to shut down Thunderbird
reader to start. For this purpose, you can the computer after the download is Having been invited recently for the
use a utility called Adobe Reader Speed-Up complete by selecting “Shut down popular Gmail account, I decided to give
available on this month’s CHIP Tools CD. when done” from the “Tools” menu. it a shot and was quite happy using it. I
On running Adobe Reader Speed-Up for have lots of important mails on my Gmail
the first time, you will be presented with 14 | Download Manager account but I would like to have a copy
a dialog box with an option saying “Speed Auto virus scan in Flashget of them on my hard drive. I use Mozilla
Up”. Check the radio button next to it and How do I automatically scan downloaded Thunderbird as an e-mail client. Can I
proceed. files for viruses in Flashget? configure Thunderbird as a mail client for
In the next dialog box, set the speed-up To protect your computer from viruses, my Gmail account?
mode as “Speedup – Fast”, which is the it’s recommended to scan files for viruses
recommended setting and click on “Start” as soon as they get downloaded. Flashget Yes, it is possible. Here is a step-
Click on the “Finish” button after the has an option to automatically scan by-step guide to setting up Thunderbird
settings are applied. downloaded files for viruses. To enable this to access your Gmail account. First of all
Now PDF files will open as quickly as feature: make sure that POP3 is enabled in your
Word documents, not taking more than a Go to the “Tools” menu and select Gmail account.
few seconds! “Options” to bring up a dialog box. Log into your Gmail account and click
Under the “File Manager” tab, check on “Settings”.
13 | Download Manager the option “Use virus scanner to scan the Select the “Forwarding and POP” tab
Optimizing Flashget downloaded file(s)”. followed by “Enable POP for all mail”.
It takes ages to download large files on a Click on the “Browser” button next to Click on the “Save Changes” button to
dialup Internet connection. At present I the empty field and specify the path to enable pop access.
the executable file of your anti-virus. The Select “Tools | Account Settings” from
executable file resides in the folder where the menu in Thunderbird mail client.
your anti-virus software is installed. Click on “Add Account”.
Make sure “E-mail account” is selected to sort all your files into different folders
and click on “Next”. according to the type of file in question.
Type your name under “Your Name.” To setup this feature in Opera, go to
Enter your Gmail address under “E- “Tools | Preferences” and click on the
mail Address” and click on “Next”. “Advanced” Tab.
Make sure POP is selected under Select “Downloads”, followed by the
“Select the type of incoming server” appropriate file type.
you are using. Also make sure that the “Save to disk”
Type “pop.gmail.com” under option is checked.
“Incoming Server” and click on “Next”. Select the “Do not ask for folder, but
Enter your full email address save directly to” option.
17 Enable detailed headers to get complete
(“abcdef@gmail.com”, for example) information about an e-mail Choose the folder to download
under “Incoming User Name”. the particular file type and click on “OK”.
You’ll just have to append “@gmail. Detailed mail headers help you
com” to what Mozilla Thunderbird has troubleshoot mail problems as well as give 19 | Opera
already entered for you and click on you more information about a particular Can I read my mail in the full browser
“Next”. e-mail. In order to view detailed mail Can I read my mail in the full browser
Give the Gmail account a name headers in Thunderbird: window in Opera?
(something like “Gmail”, for example) Select the “View | Headers | All option”
under “Account Name”. in the main window. Yes you can read mail in the full
Now click on “Done”. browser window. First eEdit the following
Highlight “Server Settings” under the 18 | Opera three files. Close Opera before editing any
new Gmail account. Sorting downloads by file types .ini file
Make sure SSL is selected under “Use I use Opera as my default web browser. Is Edit the Menu.ini file,
secure connection”. there any way I can save all the files that Item, “View in browser” = Go to page, “%s”
To setup SMTP in Thunderbird, I download to different folders based on Edit the Toolbar.ini file
Select “Outgoing Server” (SMTP) in the file type? For example, all the .zip files Button, “In browser” = Go to page,
the list of account on the left and click should be downloaded to a zip folder and “%s”,,,View
on “Add”. the .exe files to an executable folder. Edit the Input.ini file
Type “smtp.gmail.com” under Server m = Go to page, “%s”
Name. If you have downloaded files off the Open Opera, and your mail folders
Type “587” under Port. Internet using Internet Explorer or Mozilla or newsgroup lists will have “view in
Make sure “User name and password” Firefox, you will often find managing the browser” in the context menu, and there
is checked. downloaded files a cumbersome process. will be a button “In browser” on the folder
Type your Gmail address under “User You have to select the destination manually toolbars. Use the menu, or click on the
Name”. in IE while Firefox downloads all your files button to have the mail items open in
Make sure TLS is selected under “Use in a single folder. The process of sorting the full browser windows. An added bonus is
secure connection” and select “OK”. files becomes a time-consuming process, you can now also refresh a web page by
Highlight the Gmail account that we especially if your download requirements pressing ‘m’.
created beforehand. are very heavy. Opera web browser has
Under “Outgoing Server” (SMTP), a neat little feature that will allow you
make sure “smtp.gmail.com” is
selected.
Open “Server Settings” under the
Gmail account.
Select TLS under “Use secure
connection” and click on “OK”.
17 | Mozilla Thunderbird
Viewing message headers
I use Thunderbird as my e-mail client. By
default, Thunderbird only shows short
message headers. How do I get it to 18 You can also manage other file types by
display full headers for all messages? adding additional extension types
20 | Outlook (SMTP) authentication is checked. Press the down arrow until the name
Accessing Gmail via Outlook Select the option “Use same settings to be removed is highlighted and then
How do I access my Gmail account using as my incoming mail server”. press the “Del” key. Internet Explorer
Outlook? Go to the “Advanced tab”. will ask whether you want to delete the
Make sure “This server requires username and password information.
It is very simple to access your an encrypted connection (SSL)” is Click on “Yes” and it’s gone.
Gmail account in Outlook. You can do this checked under both Incoming server
using the POP3 server. You can specify if (POP3) and Outgoing server (SMTP) 23 | Internet Connection Sharing
you want to keep the mail read in Outlook Type 465 under Outgoing server Sharing your Internet connection
in your Gmail account or delete it. The (SMTP). Check if the number under in Windows XP
following steps will guide you as to how Incoming server (POP3) is changed to I have just installed a broadband Internet
this can be done: 995 automatically; if not then enter connection at home and want my PC
Turn on POP access in your Gmail 995 manually there. as well as laptop to access the Internet
account. Click on “OK”. Then click on “Next” simultaneously. How do I connect both?
Open Outlook and select “Tools | and finally on “Finish”.
E-mail Accounts”. If you have a broadband connection,
Select the option “Add a new e-mail 21 | Internet Explorer chances are that you are connected to the
account” from the new window that Disabling automatic resizing of Internet either by a USB DSL modem, a
opens up. images cable modem or you have a direct Ethernet
Click on “Next”. Choose POP3 as the Each time a high-resolution image loads line to your PC. Many Internet service
server type and click on “Next”. in Internet Explorer, it automatically gets providers provide an ADSL router that
Enter your Gmail account details in resized to fit in the browser window. To allows you to share the Internet connection
the Internet e-mail settings view it in its actual size, I have to manually off the shelf. If you don’t have a router,
(POP3) dialog: expand it. How do I disable automatic you can use Windows XP to share your
1. Put in your full name under the option resizing of images? Internet connection with some additional
“Your Name”. hardware.
2. Type in your Gmail email address Disabling automatic resizing images To share your Internet connection
under “E-mail Address”. is easy! Here’s how you do it: using Windows XP, make sure the PC that
3. Type your full Gmail address under Launch Internet Explorer and go to is connected to the Internet directly has
“User Name”. “Tools | Internet options” to bring up the
4. Type your Gmail password under the “Internet options” dialog box.
option “Password”. Select the “Advanced” tab and scroll
5. Type pop.gmail.com under “Incoming down to the “Multimedia” section.
mail server (POP3)”. “Enable automatic image resizing” is
6. Type smtp.gmail.com under the first option. Uncheck it and click on the
“Outgoing mail server (SMTP)”. “OK” button to apply the changes.
Click on “More Settings”.
Go to the “Outgoing Server tab”. 22 | Internet Explorer
Make sure “My outgoing server” Removing username/password
for a site 23a Enabling ICS allows you to effectively
Is there any way I can remove the saved share your single broadband connection
username and password of a single
web site and keep all of my other saved
password data of other web sites intact?
Pramod Jadhav
engine has gone through two transitions along with in-game cinematic physics.
from v1.0 to v2.0 and v3. Unreal technology Scenes depicting a two-story building or a
is currently working on the v4.0 version to large bridge collapsing without animation
power next-generation consoles. Some of will be an experience worth waiting
the games powered by this engine are: for. As part of this engine’s transition to
Postal2 next-generation consoles, multi-processor
Unreal Tournament 2007 optimizations have been added. This
XIII has resulted in faster processing in PCs
Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six 3: Raven and the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3
Shield consoles that run dual core processors. A
significant advancement in Half-Life 2’s
Source Engine Xbox release was file streaming, in which
Source Engine has been developed by a map’s resources could be loaded as the
Valve Corporation. Basically coded in C player moved around in it. One of this, the
and C++, it boasts of all the best features loading time was reduced to as little as 15
such as HDR2, soft-shadows, depth- seconds. This is one the most widely used
of-field, rag-doll dynamics, buoyancy, game engines today. Here are some of the
volumetric environments, lip sync and titles powered by Source:
facial expression technologies. Games Counter-Strike: Source
running on this engine are superb to play Day of Defeat: Source
because of its powerful and efficient Half-Life: Source
physics system. Advanced characteristics Half-Life 2
seen in CryEngine such as motion blur and Half-Life 2 Episodes (One, Two
depth-of-field are present in Source. Half- and Three)
life: Episode Two, powered by this engine, SiN Episodes
will in all probability come packed with You must have played all or some of
the HDR2 feature. It is being speculated these games mentioned in this article
that it will support DirectX 10 as well. and we can bet at least one of these titles
Landscape is depicted more realistically would be your favorite. So the next time
with open gorge-like environments in you witness an in-game effect, you have
Half-life: Episode Two, unseen in Episode 1. the game-coding geniuses to thank!
Soft particle systems will be seen as well, | Erick Rustomji
Price: 1,299 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Distributor: e-xpress Interactive Phone: 022-28843736 e-mail: info@e-xpressindia.com System: Windows XP,
Pentium III 800 MHz or Athlon 800 MHz or higher, 256 MB RAM, DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card with 32 MB, hard disk with 3.5 GB free space, 4X CD/DVD drive.
T
here are some people who love Quentin way you want. To drive home your point with
Tarantino’s movies and others who don’t. especially hardened opponents, butt-whacking
Me? I’m one of the former. Modeled on your hostage with your weapon will make them
the cult-inspiring Quentin Tarantino movie take you seriously.
in ’92, Reservoir Dogs promises a lot. After True to the movie, the game begins from
spending time with this PS2 title, we found that the diamond heist that went wrong. You get to
it delivered on some counts but disappointed play each of the characters in the movie where
on others. you will proceed through alleyways, deserted
Fans of the movie will appreciate the garages and industrial complexes. Depending
various nuances that went into defining this on the ferocity with which you plough
groundbreaking movie—from the snappy wit, through the levels, you will either be rated as
funky soundtrack (all of which you hear as the a professional, a criminal or a psycho! At the
game’s background score) and of course the zenith of your adrenalin rush (this is visible from
characters. However, with the movie’s cult an on-screen indicator) you can unleash a ‘Bullet
status primarily emerging out of the snappy Festival’ which takes you into a Matrix-inspired
dialog sequences in the warehouse, the slow-motion sequences of bullets. Besides
developers needed to take obvious liberties moving around on foot, there are regular
from the original storyline to impart the opportunities to hop into a car to get across a
requisite amount of action sequences in level. The in-game driving largely consists of
the game. either getting between two points within a
It all starts off in the warehouse where predefined time or staying above a speed limit
you, as a new recruit need to prove your to shake off pursuing cops and is functional
mettle in displaying competence for joining more than exciting.
the group. This serves to introduce you to the However, it isn’t difficult to get accustomed
various weapons like the pistols, shotguns to the scripted nature of the game. A generous
and submachine guns, and provides a training number of checkpoints let you save your
Jagdish Limbachiya
ground in learning to use them correctly. More progress at regular intervals. The
than just shooting, your survival depends banter, along with the signature
heavily on the ability to take hostages and use mafia one-liners are fun, but
them to disarm security personnel along the remember to turn down the
way. From guards to cops to SWAT teams, the volume as the profanity-
amount of coercion you need to exercise varies, studded humor might not
but if you do it right, you can have them drop appeal to all at home.
their arms and back up against a wall—just the | Marco D’Souza
RATINGS 7 / 10
For: Engaging gameplay, entertaining voiceovers
and funky retro soundtrack.
Against: Linear level flow.
Price: 2,499 Publisher: Eidos Interactive, SCi, Volatile Games Distributor: Milestone Interactive Phone: 022-28203319 e-mail: sales@milestoneinteractive.
com System: Playstation 2 console, 128 KB free space on memory card for saving games, controller
I
f you’re a fan of simulations, by now you from a list of over 130 different engines and
surely must have driven a Ferrari or flown a cars! When driving a train, you have complete
Concorde at full throttle. But if you haven’t control over the degree of realism. You can set
yet jumped into the cab of a locomotive, here’s the control mode as DCC or Cabin. While in the
how you can! Trainz is an all round railroad DCC mode, you only need to control the speed,
simulator that has something to offer every in the Cabin mode, you have to control the
railroad junkie right from modeling railroads to pressure brakes, throttle and speed. For those
controlling your dream train. who wish all rules to be similar to that in real
To begin with, the complete installation of life, the level of derailment can be specified.
the game takes around 700 MB of drive space With the derailment level set to maximum, you
after which you don’t require the game disc to dare not speed up at turns and bends!
play. The game is very light on resources and Finally, there’s a Scenario mode wherein
doesn’t require a fancy graphics card. Even a the gameplay is mission based. The easy
decent graphics card like the Nvidia GeForce missions are the ones where you’re in charge of
6200 can run it at the highest settings—at a passenger trains. Signals and speed limits have
resolution of 1024x768. to be obeyed failing which the scenario comes
Trainz can be played in three modes— to an end. Complex missions involve manually
Surveyor, Driver and Scenario. In the surveyor switching tracks and carrying out complex
mode you can model railroads. With a complete shunting maneuvers.
set of tunnels, bridges, buildings, vehicles and While the game is enough to thrill any
flora and fauna, you can create a fully featured railroading buff, it does have its share of quirks.
layout with great details. With an easy-to-use The interface isn’t intuitive at all. You cannot
interface, creating lavish landscapes featuring master the controls without referring to the
rolling hills, lakes, mountains, beaches and manual. Apart from the manual, there isn’t any
other geographical formations is a breeze. It is way you can learn the controls—the control
possible to model the railway network of your map is missing from the game! And since the
city also if you have a railway map! controls are mapped on the numeric pad, it will
The Trainz ‘Driver’ module provides an be difficult playing this game on a laptop.
opportunity to step in the cabin of a locomotive If you’re a fan of railroad
and take complete control of the train. You can simulation, you shouldn’t
build trains of your choice using locomotives, miss this game.
passenger cars, tankers, wagons and hoppers | Anand Tuliani
RATINGS 6.5 / 10
For: Great details and realism.
Against: No in-game tutorial; the interface isn’t
intuitive.
Pramod Jadhav
Price: 399 Publisher: Auran Distributor: Aladdin Multimedia Pvt Ltd Phone: 022-56936795 e-mail: aladdin@vsnl.com System: Windows 98 SE/ME/2000/
XP, Intel Pentium III or above, 128 MB RAM, 8x CD/DVD Drive, DirectX 9.0c compatible graphics card, 600 MB free HDD space, soundcard
www.chip-india.com
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INTELLIGENT COMPUTING CHIP | OCTOBER 2006
Classifieds 145
Intelligence where?
A fter being surrounded by geeks and
mind-boggling technologies right through
the week, and with deadlines squeezing every
drive, which resulted in a new 80 GB disk”. I
concealed my laughter and explained to him
calmly that a hard drive cannot be upgraded to
ounce of life out of me, I was left desperately a higher capacity; it needs to be replaced. The
seeking a weekend. Though the weekend appreciation I received in return was equivalent
seemed light years away, it finally arrived, to the accolades a person would receive had he
though it seemed to me it was I who rushed managed to avert the Third World War!
towards it with lightning speed!
Whatever the case was, all that matters is Head-spinning experience
once Friday beckoned, I was out of the office in a The next day, the same friend who by now
jiffy. I wanted to run away from the clutches of regarded me his Gadget Guru, urged me to
technology and sink in the serenity of nature. But accompany him to purchase a Discman he so
when one is so used to the maniacal demands wanted to possess. I agreed. We checked out a
of city life, getting away from it is a tad difficult; reputed electronic store in our vicinity.
also nature seemed far far away. The sales personnel at the store were so
So it struck me that the perfect thing to presentable that I got an inferiority complex.
do would be to hang out with friends, who Forget about being immaculately dressed,
were free men unlike me—a faithful slave to I looked like something the cat dragged in.
technology. But this seemingly temporary detour Anyway, I inquired about the various brands of
from this world of technology proved to be an Discman available, in the most impeccable
unforgettable and enlightening experience. manner possible.
After browsing through a fairly large number,
20 GB PATA + 60 GB = 80 GB SATA! we narrowed down to a Panasonic Discman
I met this friend (whose identity I dare not featuring a transparent panel and capable of
reveal, since I don’t want to risk personal injury), reading audio CDs, MP3 CDs, and VCDs. My
an engineering student with a tech handicap. friend noticed something peculiar about the
He recently shifted his loyalty from Intel to Discman—when the music played, the disc
AMD. The new PC he purchased has an AMD would rotate for a brief period and then come
Athlon 64 processor while the old one had an to a standstill even though the music continued
Intel Pentium 4 processor. When I heard about playing. So he inquired about this rather odd
it, I couldn’t resist asking him about his PC’s feature. Before I could explain that the music
configuration. While he answered most of the was buffered in a RAM chip from where the
obvious aspects like brand of the monitor and music was played even though the disc did not
speakers, answering queries about the internal rotate, the salesman’s prompt reply made my
components made him a tad uneasy. The jaw drop. His masterpiece quote, “While playing
blank look on his face was discouraging; so the disc, initially the disc is spun and later the
instead of bothering him, I decided to take a lens is spun and that explains why the CD is
look at the computer myself. stationary after a while.” Before yours truly—
I figured that an 80 GB SATA hard drive crusader of technology could strike the salesman
was installed in his computer; so I asked him in frustration, I decided it would be wise to pay
what he had done with his older 20 GB PATA for the Discman and get out of there.
hard drive. I of course had an ulterior motive When we stepped outside the shop, a
here. My hard drive was brimming with Motorola banner caught my attention. It proudly
data and getting a second-hand drive for proclaimed, ‘Intelligence everywhere’. I looked at
a friendly price would be a blessing. But my friend next to me and thought of the tech-
his reply left me dumbfounded. His exact challenged salesman and sighed. To me, only
words were, “The computer assembler ‘Intelligence nowhere’ seemed more apt!
added 60 GB of space to the older hard | Sharon Lobo
Rs 100
11