Working for a call center which deals with Dell computers has a few perks of its' own. You get to learn the inside workings of the systems and you'd be afforded the opportunity to use the desktops and portable systems on a regular basis. One such system that I've been fortunate enough to use on a regular basis is the Inspiron 6400, or the E1505 as marketed in other US segments.

For this review, let me provide you with an overview of the specifications of the I6400 that I am using at work:

Dimensions: 356 x 266 x 39mm (WDH)
Weight: 2.85kg
Processor: 2Ghz Intel Core 2™ Duo T5250 processor
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM [2 1GB memory sticks]
Video Card: Intel Graphics Media [integrated video]
Display: 15.4 SXGA+ LCD display
Audio: integrated High Definition Audio 2.0
Connectivity options: Dell Wireless Card [802.11 a/b/g], 56K dial-up modem, 10/100 integrated NIC, Bluetooth
Storage: 80GB 5400RPM SATA HDD, SD/MMC/MS/PRO/xD media card reader
Battery: 56Whr Lithium Ion Battery [6 cells]
Optical Drive: 16X DVD +/- RW Drive
Expansion slot: Express Card
OS: Windows Vista Ultimate

First off, let me note that if you are looking for a computer that you could take places, then this might be a bit heavy for carrying around. Though, on second thought, with the features this system packs, it might be well worth it.

A part of the 80GB hard drive is allocated for Dell's idea of making OS Reinstallations easier: PC Restore. It consumed about 10GB of space for it alone. All in all, the system I have started out at around 60GB of space. I've received a handful of calls from customers complaining about this lack of notification from Dell, but I just inform them that in case the system needs to be reinstalled completely, it is much more convenient, compared to doing it using the CDs [PC Restore takes 10-15 minutes to restore the system to original configuration, compared to 1-2 hours performing the conventional reinstallation].

Everything seems to load up pretty quickly when needed. Startup takes about a minute to finish. It is pretty good for normal tasks, like opening documents, playing DVD movies, and music. It doesn't show signs of slowing down even when doing multiple tasks.

The display is good, but not great. Some sections of the screen seem to have a low backlight compared to others. It is hardly noticeable though, unless you watch movies on it regularly.

Another consideration is the battery life of the system. I'm using a 6-cell battery which provides roughly around 2-3 hours of regular use.

The keyboard feels fine, though it takes a bit of adjustment to get used to typing with it for prolonged periods of time. The touchpad is very responsive, and a nifty scrolling feature is added on the lower right corner of the pad. The only issue I encountered with it is that the touchpad buttons feel a bit unresponsive at times.

For all it's worth, I'd give the Inspiron 6400 an 8 out of 10. And with a new line of systems released late last month by Dell, the price on this system would be lower from what the market is currently pricing this one for. 

Asus EEE PC 701

I hardly get excited with regards to portable computers being released. I am a techie type of person and love to get a chance to use the latest and greatest in the world of computers, but a part of me just knows that the "latest and greatest" cost more than an arm and a leg to get a hold of.

Now, this one is something I am excited about.

This isn't a second-hand portable computer, nor is this a laptop with so and so specifications. Surely, this is not the complete package, but it is something truly worth waiting for.

This, my friends, is the ASUS EEE 701 laptop computer. It is an ultraportable computer which packs a nice punch and has a lot of features. 

The specifications as stated by ASUS are:

Processor: Intel 900 MHz Pentium M (Dothan-based)

• Chipset: Intel 910
• Graphics: Intel UMA, additional VGA port
• Display: 17.8 cm (7 in)
• Memory: 512 MB DDR2-400
• Storage: 4, 8, or 16 GB flash Solid state drive
• OS: a Xandros-based Linux variant with a Windows XP-like interface; the laptop may also run other Operating Systems like Windows XP, Mandriva, Debian, SuSe, FreeBSD, Ubuntu or MenuetOS optionally
• Communication: 10/100 Mbit Ethernet, 56k modem, 802.11b/g wireless LAN (Atheros-based)
• 4 USB 2.0, MMC/SD/MS card reader, microphone and headphone
• Camera: 0.3 megapixel video
• Audio: Hi-Definition Audio CODEC; built-in stereo speaker; built-in microphone
• Battery: 5200 mAh (4 cells, 2S2P), estimated 3 hours run time. There are no plans to offer a larger-capacity battery
• Dimensions: 225 × 165 × 21~35 mm (8.9 × 6.5 × 0.9~1.4 in)
• Weight: 890 g (2 lbs)
• Colors: white, black

As I said, it is not a complete solution, but a really light portable computer, with wi-fi for only around $199 USD is a good deal if you ask me. Now, critics may point to the limited space and the lack of an optical drive but those can easily be addressed by external hard drives and optical drives. I've read in one online store based here in the Philippines that when it becomes available locally, it is going to be sold at around 13-15,000 Php. 

I'm about to save up for this nice little puppy and would use it to see if it is truly worth it. Me, and a friend would both work with it and see if it is worth the excitement.

The long wait is over. After a few weeks of being limited to walks, and being struck out for a week or two, Barry Bonds has done what no one else has done: tie Hank Aaron's career home run total. His 2nd inning homer over San Diego Padres pitches Clay Hensley has assured him of a tie with Hank Aaron. Next in line, his own page in the history books as the sole owner of Baseball's home run record. And he's got about 50 more games left on the season.

Critics may point out an obvious issue during this discussion of great home run hitters. Of course, ever since the steroid scandal came up in Major League Baseball and the Congress steroid hearings were done, Bonds was among the top people being pointed to as one of the biggest users of performance-enhancing drugs. Bonds himself, though, did not help things by being defensive and acting like he's got some skeletons in his closet to keep.

In his credit though, I believe that despite all these criticisms, it's no easy feat to hit anywhere near as close to the number of home runs that Barry did. This achievement was reached in the face of strategies designed to lessen the number of opportunities for him to hit [intentional walk strategy throughout the game]. It is also quite sad that when Mark McGwire was gunning for the single-season home run record almost a decade ago, everyone was cheering him on and are looking for the record to be broken, while when Barry Bonds is one swing away from making history, baseball fans outside of San Francisco are vilifying him and contesting the validity of him breaking the record.

For now, the record set more than three decades ago have been tied, and one Barry Bonds, after almost two decades of swinging the bat, is just one more big swing away from cementing his place as the game's biggest home run hitter. That, for me, continues to be impressive.

One of the worst teams in the NBA. The premier example as to why having little or no veteran help in the team is bad. A poor tanker. Not having a chance on Greg Oden or Kevin Durant after slipping all the way down to 5th [they had the 2nd highest odds to get the 1st pick]. These things used to be accurate descriptions for the Boston Celtics.

Celtics' GM Danny Ainge seemed to be on the way out. Season after season of missing the playoffs and no clear direction for the franchise has Boston fans clamoring for his head. With his job on the line and his window of opportunity closing, he managed to pull off the moves to put his team back into contention. He risked the 5th pick of the draft to acquire Ray Allen from the Seattle Supersonics. People were not content. In fact, they thought it was a bad move to trade for a multi-time All-Star for the players they sent along with the 5th draft pick.

Other big name free agents and stars looking to be traded have steered clear of Boston. They have spoken to the media and expressed their intent not to play for the 16-time NBA champions. And in one sudden twist of fate...

Kevin Garnett becomes a Celtic.

And the once bottom dwellers are now being touted as contenders in the mediocre Eastern Conference. It may have taken 7 players to get the 11-time All-Star, but they somehow managed to pull off a big trade. It made history, too, as the biggest swap for a single player in the history of the league.

The ramifications would not be known until the season starts. On paper, with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, the Celtics look like a strong contender. But, the game is played on the court and not on paper, so the success of this trade hangs on the result of the season.

On the bright side, at least there is a window of opportunity for the franchise. Better than none, which was what they basically had at the start of the year.

 I am to review the techie stuff that I have access to. With my current work schedule being quite light, I'll take the chance to try my hand at doing reviews. I haven't done so before, so I may not be good yet.

First off, let's check out the Nokia 3230. Originally released last 2005, it was part of the Series 60 cellphone offerings of Nokia. It has a candybar look to it, with smooth edges instead of the usual rigid corners of mobile phones. I have used the various phone features extensively for the 7 months that I've had it, and while it isn't something spectacular compared to newer and more advanced mobile phones, it certainly is serviceable and very useful. Let me list down the pros and cons of this mobile phone, based on my regular, unscientific testing.

Pros:

- nice, clear display for Symbian games and applications.
- the joystick mechanism used for navigating through menus and options is quite sturdy.
- it is highly customizable with various themes built-in and those available online.
- memory card slot available for RS-MMC, which allows for extra storage space for photos, sound clips, and/or other files.
- good battery life, lasts for about 2-3 days of regular use.
- built-in 1.3 megapixel camera. It shoots nice enough pictures for everyday use, but don't expect digicam-like pictures, even at its highest setting. Highest resolution by pictures is at 1280 x 960.

Cons:

- limited integrated memory (5MB only available for use).
- you cannot receive files larger than 4MB via the phone's bluetooth feature. The reason is that files are initially stored in the phone's memory and there's no way of having files go directly to the memory card.
- No WLAN feature, and while you could use GPRS, it tends to run slowly on pages that have some pictures on it. I've had the phone freeze up on more than a few occasions while trying to browse through the results on Yahoo! Sports.
- The screen size is not conducive for browsing through GPRS. The display is small and you have to constantly scroll down.

All the information written down is based on regular, personal use. It wasn't tested under controlled situations, so some data may be a bit off, but would not be by much. I personally give the Nokia 3230 a 7 out of 10. Though not something that you'd be craving for considering the age of the Nokia N-Series and the Apple iPhone, but something that holds its own with its features.