HP dv2000 Series Laptops Multi screen display problem

The HP laptops have been known for there quality products...but beware buyers. The dv2000/dv6000 series laptops (dv 2762tx, etc) especially having the Nvidia Graphics IC's (Integrated Circuits) are facing a problem of over-heating.

Problem:-

The laptops are are showing 4 or 6 multi-screen displays while the other features are working fine. The HP service center will offer to change the complete motherboard which will cost around Rs.15-20 k which is just absurd for a laptop of 35-50k.

Solutions:-

There are 2 solutions to this problem:-

1. Get the Nvidia IC refix by soldering it back at its place. For this you will have to go to a local motherboard repair center and will charge you around Rs.1000.

But I would not recommend this solution as this is temporary and heating the problem may persist.

2. Get the Nvidia IC replaced from a professional repair center.

i.e the old IC will have to be removed by heating and a new IC will be refixed or soldered again. This will cost you around Rs.2000-2500 and the solution will be much better than the solution 1 above.

Signing Off

- Gaurav Deshmukh

Our favorite Gmail goes offline...

Gmail has always been one of the favorite webmails amongst most of the web users. However, there always was a concerns (especially for addicts like me) when there was limited internet access.

Google has come up with a really useful soltion with the offline feature of Gmail.

How it works?

Once the feature is turned on, Gmail uses Gears to download a local cache of your mail. As long as the user is connected to the network, that cache is synchronized with Gmail's servers. When the user loses the connection, Gmail automatically switches to offline mode, and uses the data stored on computer's hard drive instead of the information sent across the network. Users can read messages, star and label them, and do all of the things available with  online webmail. Any messages sent while offline will be placed in the outbox and automatically sent the next time Gmail detects a connection. And if the connection is unreliable or slow, you can choose to use "flaky connection mode," which is somewhere in between: it uses the local cache as if you were disconnected, but still synchronizes your mail with the server in the background. The video below puts more light on this feature.

Steps to using Gmail offline:

1. Install latest version of Google Gears (preinstalled in Google Chrome)
2. Click Settings and click the Labs tab.
3. Select Enable next to Offline Gmail.
4. Click Save Changes.
5. After your browser reloads, you'll see a new "Offline^0.1" link in the upper righthand corner of your account, next to your username. Click this link to start the offline set up process and download Gears if you don't already have it.

ref.:

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-in-labs-offline-gmail.html

Amazon Kindle : Expensive jotter?

Amazon comes out with a new product christened the Kindle. It does look good, but will surely burn a mighty deep hole in your pocket. Take a look at the leaked pictures -

Via : Engadget

- Systems '08

BlackBerry Storm - another "me-too" wannabe iPhone Killer?

Yes....Blackberry's storm is here in India and we did manage to get our hands on it (Courtesy : Chroma, Aundh). It's sleek, sturdy and doesn't have Wi-Fi! So it is basically spending 27 grand on a gorgoues looking screen. We found the interface to be extremely slow and unresponsive, but on the bright side the preloaded videos looked stunning in the larger than 3" screen.


It took us quite an effort to get used to the touch screen and navigate through the menus because we had to tap really hard to get any application running. Messaging again was quite a pain in the a**e, specially for thick fingered people (me included).


A run through of the other features :

Camera: The snapshots which we took were of decent quality and nothing to write home about. The quality could have been definitely better considering you are shelling out 27k and that too for a 3.2MP cam.



Menu: The menu layout was very good especially with the large sized icons with which even a blind person cannot go wrong.



Designing: The device will comfortably fit in anyone's palm but definitely thicker than the iPhone with weight comparable to that of the iPhone. Now since the phone is being marketed as an iPhone killer we feel the Call Accept/Reject buttons could have been done away with. The Return and Menu buttons thankfully serve their functions.



Verdict:- Well for us Blackberry Storm did have a few positives but at 27k, and without Wi-Fi, it will take a bit more to find ready takers for it.



Two liner reviews of the other phones we tried out:

iPhone:
The Jesus phone thrilled us with its sleek design and ultra fast response times.The multi-touch concept is definitely the USP of the iPhone. The screen is sharp, bright and crystal clear. The on-screen keyboard for any task is fun to use and gets the job done.



Verdict: Overpriced in India, get it sourced from the US of A.


HTC Touch:
The HTC touch still manages to have a loyal customer base because of the appropriate pricing and best of Windows mobile applications.


Verdict: Perfect PDA for the budget concious.


HTC Diamond:
Mind blowing interface with an awkward looking back-panel, but it might not be an issue for others. The interface was responsive and the other finer details can be found here.


Verdict: For those who want functionality at reasonable prices instead of the ridiculously overpriced iPhone.


HTC P3300:
The bulkier and featuring a track-pad and a jog-dial phone from HTC resembles a palm top.
The track pad is fun to use and navigation through mouse pointer makes the phone stand out from the rest.


Verdict: Its different.

That's it for now guys (and the gals too), next review coming up soon.

Signing off
- Gaurav (Deshmukh, Saha)

Hola! Primer puesto

The blog that we have already, would have got cluttered with so many tech related blogs. Hence the need of the hour was a separate blog which would cater to only tech related info, articles, links, whitepapers, reviews, etc, etc.

Keep posting :)

- Systems '08