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Aug 11 2008

Calibrate your Monitor for Perfect Picture Color with the Pantone Huey

Posted by: Barry Cleave in All Software, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, tags: Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Independant Review, Monitor Calibration, Screen Color, Software, Utilities, Vista, Windows, Windows XP

What’s This All About?

The Pantone Huey is a useful piece of kit combined with a software program that allows you to accurately calibrate the color display of your monitor. This calibration means that you will see images and in particular your photos with accurate color rendition. What’s more the Huey and combined software will automatically adjust the display based on the room lighting conditions.

Why Would You Want It?

Accurately setting the colours, contrast and brightness of your monitor is practically impossible with the naked eye. If you want to see digital images and in particular your photographs as they actually are then accurate calibration is a necessity. If you use digital editing software to change or enhance your images then it is very important you work with accurate settings in order to achieve the desired results. This is even more important if you are then going to print the enhanced images.

I bought a Huey about 12 months ago and I am still amazed at how different the true settings are for my monitors compared to those I have set by eye. The results, particularly where I am printing photos to display or send to relatives make the Huey a worthwhile investment.

What Does It Do - The Essentials?

Summary:

Sets the colors, brightness and contrast for your computer monitor
Adjusts the display based on changing room lighting
Allows optimised settings for different uses.

Pros: What’s Good?

Features & Benefits

Simple to set up

(more…)

Popularity: 32% [?]

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Jun 30 2008

Freecom ToughDrive 2.5″ - Strong and Reliable Pocket Sized Storage

Posted by: Barry Cleave in Computer Hardware, tags: Backup, Data Storage, DataSecurity, External Hard Drive, Hard Drive, Portable Freeware, Portable Hard Drive, PortableApps, Windows, Windows XP

What Are They?

The Freecom ToughDrive 2.5″ is a mobile 2.5″ hard drive from Freecom with Anti-Shock mechanism contained in a durable, soft silicon cover. It has an integral USB 2.0 cable and plug and is USB 2.0, buspowered so you don’t need an additional power supply. It works with Win & Mac as well as other digital products with a suitable USB interface.

Why Would You Want One?

I could have written something here but the Freecom site has some text that I think covers what I would say anyway:

The toughest drive there is!
In today’s world mobility has become a key factor. People who are on the road carry their whole office with them. Notebook, mobile phone, PDA, external hard drive… Imagine what can happen when you’re late for a flight, running to the gate, and your external hard drive accidentally falls from your notebook case or out of your jacket pocket onto the floor… it breaks. Hundreds of hours of work, gigabytes of spreadsheets, documents, photo’s… all gone. Not anymore! Freecom introduces the ToughDrive. The ideal external storage solution for people on the move. Fitted with an internal anti-shock frame and a unique soft silicon cover, it can withstand bumps and drops so your drive is still fully functional after it has dropped. The ToughDrive ensures you can still access your valuable files.

What Are The Essentials?

Specification:

Product Short Spec - 250GB:
Compatibility: PC, Mac
Hard drive size: 250 GB
Interface type: Hi-Speed USB
Form factor: 2.5″
Buffer size: 8 MB
Average seek time: 12 ms
Spindle speed: 5400 rpm

View datasheet (PDF)

Pros: What’s Good?

Features & Benefits

Durable, soft silicon cover
Internal anti-shock mechanism - Withstand falling from 2 meters
Integrated USB 2.0 cable
Buspowered
High quality, slimline design
Fanless design thus no noise
Including award-winning NTI Shadow backup software for PC and Mac,automatically & continuously protects your photo, music, video and other data files
2 years warranty

Cons:What’s Not So Good?

Short integrated USB cable

(An extension is provided but it is one more thing to have to carry around)

Why Do I Use Them and

What is the ProReviewer Experience?

I have used 3 different Toughdrives over the past 2 years. an 80GB, a 160GB and my most recent purchase a 250GB. I bought the first one because I needed some lightweight portable storage as my Laptop only had a 30GB internal drive. I wanted something I could take on overseas trips and holidays with confidence that it was unlikely to fail due to being bumped about in the laptop bag or rucksack. The later purchases were to be able to carry more data and take some multimedia files for entertainment on my travels. The first drives also came with Acronis Backup software which is excellent. The latest drives come with NTI Shadow backup software which I haven’t tried.

The first two drives (80GB & 160GB) were called ToughDrive Pro but Freecom have now used this for a newer model which has both USB and FireWire connections. However you will see that both reviews in the “Useful Links” section below refer to the original model and describe them as the ToughDrive Pro so watch out for this inconsistency if you intend to purchase and don’t need the extra FireWire connection.

I have not been disappointed. Not a single problem with any of them which is more than I can say for 2 other drives I have used from other manufacturers. Acknowledging just 3 drives is a small sample to comment on overall reliability I have been very pleased with them and would recommend them to anyone. While a little more expensive the extra security and confidence you can get to your data when you need it is well worth it. The soft cases have not scuffed or marked with use despite being regularly carried in the front pocket of a rucksack with several items. Needless to say I keep a full copy of all my portable applications on all of them