Product Description: The speed you need. The control you crave. This is the only Cordless Desktop to feature the rechargeable MX Revolution hyper-fast scrolling laser mouse, and a dynamic keyboard display. An integrated LCD makes it easy to play music, use your calculator, receive incoming message notifications, and check the time and date Enables dependable, cordless connectivity from up to 30 feet Helps ensure a hassle-free setup Fits your hand for ultimate comfort and control Offers a more natural typing experience Comfortably supports your hands System Requirements - Windows XP, Windows Vista, USB port, and CD-ROM drive
Amazon.com Review: We recently reviewed the NETGEAR ReadyNAS NV+, a network attached storage device, or NAS, that's built for small offices and work groups. We were so impressed with its performance that we decided to test NETGEAR's home-user model, the ReadyNAS Duo, to see if it measures up to its bigger sibling's performance.
What We Think
Overall Rating:
Pros: Compact design, energy efficient, easy-to-use, built-in RAID capability for secure storage, media streaming capability for wide variety of devices, excellent online forums for add-ons and support
Cons: Insufficient user manuals, add-on software does not always have complete feature set
At a Glance
Capacity: 500 GB (1x500GB) Dimensions: 5.6 x 4 x 8.7 inches (HxWxD) Warranty: 3 years
The ReadyNAS Duo can serve as a digital media server for your home. View larger.
We're happy to report that the ReadyNAS Duo rivals the NV+, but at a fraction of the price. Built for the home-user and home office, this compact, powerful, and surprisingly quiet and energy-efficient device has just about everything you need to keep your digital media easily accessible and protected.
Unfortunately we don't have the space to describe everything we admire about this outstanding NAS device. What we can describe are several features that stood out, including its compact design and easy set-up, quiet and energy-efficient performance, web-, print-server and advanced media streaming features, and its outstanding data protection capabilities. (Our review of the ReadyNAS NV+ covered the system's RAID array functionality, as well several other features that the Duo shares.)
In short, this is an advanced NAS device that anyone who is serious about digital media should consider for their home network.
Easy Set-Up and Compact Design In addition to this 500 GB version, the NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo comes with 750 GB, and 1 TB capacities. The models share identical features, with the difference being the amount of storage in each. The version we tested, the RND2150, included a single 500 GB SATA drive in a hot-swappable carrier with room for a second drive alongside it. (Each of the models ships with a single hard disk drive and can be easily upgraded for data redundancy by installing a second compatible disk drive of equal or higher capacity. The new disk drive will automatically mirror the first drive.)
While the initial set-up with the system's extremely intuitive interface took less than 20 minutes, getting the information for the more advanced-user procedures took a bit more time. NETGEAR does not ship the Duo with extensive user guides. Instead, users are directed to ReadyNAS's online community forum (www.readynas.com) for advanced set-up procedures and add-ons. While navigating the forum for information can be time consuming, the site is constantly updated by NETGEAR developers and community members. We found information easy to locate and well presented.
Like the NV+, users do not need an technical background to configure the Duo. However, a knowledge of network basics, and an ability to search for and install basic files is a must. And anyone with even a modicum of networking experience will find the Duo a breeze to work with.
The Duo is smaller than a breadbox and is constructed with a sturdy metal chassis and door. It includes a Gigabit Ethernet port and two USB 2.0 ports on the back, and an extra USB port at the front along with a "backup" button.
With two drive bays, you can easily upgrade the Duo for data redundancy. View larger.
The Duo is designed to work with virtually any USB storage device and USB printer. We began by plugging a flash drive, external hard drive and a printer directly into the Duo. In each case, the devices appeared as shared drives on our network computers, and the printer connected to the device without a hitch, giving the networked computers instant printing abilities.
Overall Set-Up and Design Grade: A- We would prefer to have more documentation included with the hardware, but the online forum is an excellent source of information.
Quiet and Energy-Efficient Performance A huge plus for us is the ReadyNAS Duo's quiet performance. A fan sits at the back of the device, softly humming. Although we disagree with the NETGEAR marketing materials and wouldn't sleep with the Duo, we wouldn't hesitate to set it alongside a home theater system, or in another common area. Compared to many other NAS devices, the ReadyNAS Duo is as quiet and unobtrusive as they come.
In an idle state, our single-disk Duo consumes only 27 Watts of power (or about 35 Watts with two drives installed), and a bit more than that with disk activity. In disk spin-down mode, power consumption goes down to a mere 12 Watts. This is a huge savings when compared to the 100 Watts or more from most computers with comparable storage and RAID abilities.
The Duo also lets you schedule partial or complete shut downs for additional efficiencies. So if you plan to use the device as your primary digital media server or for scheduled back ups of your data, these energy savings will quickly add up.
Overall Power Performance and Noise-Level Grade: A What a relief to keep our carbon print (and electricity bills) low--quietly and unobtrusively.
Web Server and Advanced Media Streaming Features Our primary reason for wanting the Duo was to serve our digital media from a single source and reduce the work load of our personal computers. With the Duo, you can kiss goodbye the need to keep your computers running when you want to stream media files. The Duo can connect via your network to such devices as the NETGEAR EVA8000, Sonos Digital Music System, Logitech Squeezebox, Apple iTunes clients, Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360. In fact, it will work with just about any DLNA-compliant device.
Once we loaded our entire music collection onto the server and launched the Duo's built-in iTunes server, our music was immediately available through iTunes on our personal computers. But what really made us smile was that our digital music became instantly available through our Logitech Squeezbox player, bypassing our computers entirely. This means that we now have 24/7 wireless access to our entire digital music collection without having to turn on our computers. On the down side, because the Duo's SlimServer add-on does not offer the software's most recent updates, functionality is slightly compromised, but the advantages of instant, uninterrupted access to our music library far outweighs those inconveniences.
The ReadyNAS Duo can serve files to all your computers and compatible media players in your home.
We were also able to access our personal video files seamlessly through our networked computers. While we found performance to be virtually indistinguishable from playing the files directly on our hard drives, if we were streaming HD video over our wireless network we would have needed to use Wireless-N to ensure steady performance. (If you're looking to do this NETGEAR recommends a purpose-built product called the 5GHz Wireless-N Bridge Kit, or one of their 200MB Powerline Network Adapters.) We also found that editing large raw video files was best accomplished directly off our local hard drive and uploading the edited files to the Duo, but this was more a function of our network connections than it was with the Duo's performance.
NETGEAR's FrontView web-based control panel makes configuration and administration simple. View larger.
Another nice touch is the Duo's Web server capability. With about 20 minutes of configuration time, you can serve your own personal Web Site or blog. Set-up was much easier and quicker than uploading to a remote hosting site. Obviously, if you have visions of launching the next hot social network site, neither the Duo (or your Internet connection) will be able to handle the traffic. But for your own Web site or personal blog, it will stand up nicely.
Overall Web Server and Media Streaming Grade: B+ Once ReadyNAS is able to update firmware concurrently with the media device updates, you'll never need a computer to serve your media files again.
Advanced Data Protection What truly allows the Duo to live up to its "advanced NAS" moniker is it wealth of data protection features, especially its X-RAID technology, "Continuous Data Protection or CDP," and its scheduled back up abilities.
Just add a second 500 GB disk drive into the empty bay, and the ReadyNAS Duo will automatically build a mirror of the first drive by copying every byte from the first drive to the second one. In case of any hard drive failure, the data is protected. We had a SATA 500GB drive on hand, so we tried this. It was as easy as securing the drive with four screws onto the carrier and plugging the drive in. The data mirroring is taken care of automatically on the fly by the unique X-RAID.
ReadyNAS Duo also includes a feature we're enthralled with called "Shadow" that not only backs up folders and files every time you save them on your computer, but also gives you the ability to save and revert to previous versions of the files. If your local file is lost or corrupted, you simply right click on the back-up file on the Duo to restore it to its original location. Every user on our network accessed this feature without a glitch. As featured on the Duo, CDP is a powerful way to keep your files protected.
And to keep the files on the Duo protected, we scheduled back-ups to a connected external USB drive. The Duo flawlessly performed a full back up the first time, and incremental back ups thereafter. And a convenient "back-up button" located on the front of the device lets you back up your entire system, or parts of it, with a single click. With the X-RAID and the backup features provided by the Duo, you'll never have an excuse to lose a byte of data again.
Overall Data Protection Grade: A With the Duo, we will have to work hard to ever lose data again.
Conclusions The ReadyNAS Duo is a powerful, attractive, and flexible NAS device that is great for a home network. It offers much of the functionality of a dedicated server, but since set up is mostly plug-and-play, it does not require a dedicated IT personnel to manage. As noted, the manual does not give all the answers. Fortunately, the strong online community and Web forums offer excellent support and services. And finally, the ReadyNAS Duo is backed by an industry-leading 5-year warranty, so you can rest assured that you'll be protected should anything go wrong.
What's in the Box ReadyNAS Duo with 500 GB hard disk drive, two hard disk trays, quick installation guide, warranty card, power adapter, power cable, Ethernet cable, ReadyNAS Installation CD and Discovery Utility, and NTI Shadow for ReadyNAS for Windows and Macintosh.
Amazon.com Product Description: The NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo is an ideal Network Attached Storage device for use in homes with more than one computer. The ReadyNAS Duo offer 500 GB of storage and lets you easily share your files, music, and video over a home network and access your data remotely over the Internet. It can even stream music, photos and video to a network media players without a computer.
The NETGEAR ReadyNAS Duo:
Offers 500 GB of storage for Mac and PC sharing.
Streams music, pictures, and videos to network media players without a computer.
Lets you access and download your data from anywhere via Internet.
Includes Gigabit Ethernet for super-fast data transfers.
Creates a personal Web page to easily share photos with friends and family.
A Gigabit Ethernet connection means fast speeds when the ReadyNAS is connected to your home network. View larger. View back.
Removable trays make adding another drive a snap.View larger.
The Ideal Home Media Server With the ReadyNAS duo connected to your home network, you can listen to your digital music without the need for a computer. The device's advanced media streaming features support such media devices as the NETGEAR EVA8000 Digital Entertainer HD, Logitech Squeezebox, Apple iTunes clients, Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360.
The ReadyNAS Duo features a Gigabit Ethernet connector that can provide a fast 1000 Mbps connection to your network, which ensures that you can stream audio and video without any hiccups. Compatible with both Macs and PCs, the ReadyNAS is the perfect solution for media storage, allowing you and your family to easily share media files seamlessly. And with an embedded BitTorrent client for direct downloading from the Internet, the ReadyNAS will ensure that you can publish, discover and download digital entertainment content quickly, easily and securely.
500 GB of Storage and Remote Access to Your Files If you have access to a broadband Internet connection, the ReadyNAS Duo also allows you to easily access to all your files no matter where you are. If you forget to bring that one file with you for a meeting, it's simple to retrieve it from your home server, quickly and securely. You can also use the ReadyNAS Duo to host your personal Web page, so you can easily share photos and media with friends and family.
The ReadyNAS Duo comes with 500 GB of hard drive space, enough for 2,000,000 photos, 9,250 hours of music, or 750 hours of video. (If you need greater storage space, NETGEAR also offers the ReadyNAS Duo in the ReadyNAS Duo 750 GB and ReadyNAS Duo 1 TB models.) It includes three USB ports that allow you to directly connect USB disk drives, USB flash drives, printers, and wireless network adapters, adding even greater functionality to your home network.
This device also has easily accessible SATA hard disk drive bays with easy-to-use hot-swappable and lockable trays. Simply by adding a second hard disk drive all of your valuable files are automatically duplicated for the ultimate in file protection and back-up. NETGEAR's exclusive X-RAID technology is built into the hardware. A second drive provides full data redundancy for protection against hardware failure and takes over if the first hard drive ever were to fail. A self-managing and monitoring system offers automatic power-up and shutdown, drive monitoring, and problem identification, for even greater peace of mind.
The ReadyNAS Duo requires computers operating on Windows 2000, Windows XP Home or Professional (SP1 or SP2), Windows Vista, Mac OS X, or Linux. It has a Kensington lock security hole and is backed by a 5-year warranty.
What's in the Box ReadyNAS Duo, 2 hard disk trays, 1 pre-loaded 500 GB Hard Drive, quick installation guide, warranty card, power adapter, power cable, Ethernet cable, installation CD, ReadyNAS discovery utility, NTI Shadow for ReadyNAS for Windows and Macintosh.
The ReadyNAS Duo lets you create a robust, multi-media home network.
Product Description: The ReadyNAS Duo is perfect for homes with more than one computer. Unlike a USB drive, the ReadyNAS connects to the network and is simultaneously accessible via all connected Windows or Macintosh computers. If there is a broadband Internet connection and a home router, the ReadyNAS can be set up to provide secure access to all the stored files remotely via the Internet.For added protection of stored data, an optional second hard disk drive can be installed. The spare hard drive will keep an extra copy of all the data and instantly take over if the first hard drive should fail.Advanced media streaming support allows the ReadyNAS to directly serve media, with no PC required, to devices such as the NETGEAR EVA8000, Sonos Digital Music System, Logitech Squeezebox, Apple iTunes clients, Sony Playstation 3 and Microsoft Xbox 360.Officially licensed BitTorrent client allows downloading to occur without the need for an additional computer. A Web-based interface facilitates download management from computers, and a special NETGEAR Digital Entertainer interface allows management from the EVA8000.
Turn your computer into a powerful digital music center.
The stow-away MP3 cradle makes the Logitech X-240 speakers more than just a great speaker system for your computer. Connect your digital audio player with the included auxiliary cable, or use your own USB/power cable to sync, charge and play digital music from your iPod, Zune, PDA or mobile phone. Dynamic, real-time bass equalization maximizes bass response from the down-firing subwoofer while high-excursion drivers provide rich sound from the slim, stylish satellites.
Features
Stow-away device cradle Connect your MP3 player to the auxiliary input, or use your own USB/power cable for syncing and charging.
Convenient volume and power controls Enjoy deep, rich sound or use the headphone jack to listen to your music privately.
Stylish metal grills The modern yet durable design complements any computer system or home decor.
Ported, down-firing subwoofer - Displaces more air for deeper bass.
High-excursion satellite drivers - Provide rich sound while maintaining a slim profile.
Headphone jack - Allows you to enjoy your music privately.
Product Description: The stow-away MP3 cradle makes the Logitech X-240 speakers more than just a great speaker system for your computer. Connect your digital audio player with the included auxiliary cable, or use your own USB/power cable to sync, charge and play digital music from your iPod, Zune, PDA or mobile phone. Dynamic, real-time bass equalization maximizes bass response from the down-firing subwoofer while high-excursion drivers provide rich sound from the slim, stylish satellites.
Product Description: Oddsare, your computer is a primary source of entertainment. So why rely on standard computer speakers with so much rich content at your fingertips? Step up to Companion 2 Series II speakers and unleash your computers true potential with powerful, full-range sound for CDs, DVDs, MP3s, streaming videos, games and more. Companion 2 Series II speakers deliver both the subtleties in your music and the rousing resonance of movie and game sound effects. Think of them as giving new voice to your computer. And with Bose TrueSpace stereo signal processing circuitry, that voice really has some reach. Experience a spacious, dramatic soundstage that seems to extend beyond the desktop speakers, whether you've set them next to your monitor or placed them farther apart. You'll also appreciate the clear, robust response for those challenging low musical notes and sound effects. Companion 2 speakers bring more than new flair to your desktop. They're also designed for convenience, with both the volume control and headphone jack close at hand. All so controlling your listening experience is as simple as you'd like it to be. Dual inputs enable the speakers to be used with your computer as well as a second audio source, such as a portable MP3 or CD player. And Companion 2 Series II speakers are magnetically shielded to prevent interference with your monitor. Now, its time to play.
The NETGEAR GS108 ProSafe 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch offers:
Eight gigabit ports for fast data transfers.
Auto-sensing ports that eliminate manual switches.
Fanless design for silent operation.
The NETGEAR GS108 ProSafe 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch provides your local area network (LAN) with reliable 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing connectivity for eight users.
At Gigabit speeds, even large video files are transferred quickly. View larger.
Sturdy and Reliable Design NETGEAR's GS100 series desktop switches are housed in a compact sturdy metal case designed without the need for internal fans, keeping operation both silent and more reliable. It can be placed on a flat surface or you can use the included wall mount kit to hide it away on the wall.
Simple Setup and Stellar Performance Plug in your Ethernet cables and connect a power cord, and you're ready to go. There is no software to install or settings to configure. The switch features auto-sensing ports which automatically obtains the fastest possible connection. There are no toggle switches or special crossover cables. The switch will honor priority tags at both the Layer 2 and Layer 3 level if you have your network set to support jumbo frames.
Every port supports up to 2000 Mbps in dedicated bandwidth. Automatic flow control ensures smooth traffic. There is a queue buffer memory of 12 kbytes per port and a MAC address database size of 4,000. The switch has status LEDs for power, and link, speed, and activity for each port.
The NETGEAR GS108 ProSafe 8-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch has a Mean Time Between Failure of 91,500 hours and is backed by a lifetime warranty. The power adapter is backed by a 2-year warranty.
What's in the Box GS108 Desktop Switch, wall-mount kit, power adapter, installation guide, warranty/support information card.
Product Description: Netgear GS108NA -- Now you can build a powerful, high speed network with a small scale investment of time and expertise. The GS108NA Ethernet Switch provides a full, dedicated 1000, 100 or 10 Mbps connection, so you can move extremely large files across your network virtually instantly. Fits neatly into small work spaces Runs cool and silent, with no fan required Strong, durable metal case Dimensions - 0.98H x 3.93W x 11.29L Weight - 1.98 pounds Lifetime warranty for product purchased after 05/01/2007. For product purchased before 05/01/2007, warranty is limited lifetime.
Product Description: Package Contents: 5-port 10/100/1000 Desktop switch, power adapter, wall mount kit, rubber feet, CD-ROM with Product Documentation
The D-Link DGS-2205 5-Port 10/100/1000 Desktop Switch is an excellent solution for expanding your Gigabit network. Gigabit speed is 10 times faster than 100Mbps Fast Ethernet connection - use it for faster transfer of bandwidth-intensive music, video, photos, graphic, and data files. Features like MAC address learning and aging, along with 802.3x flow control alleviate traffic congestion, ensuring reliable and efficient transmission of data. Check e-mail, browse the web, chat with friends and family, and play online games more quickly. Make and receive jitter-free Voice over IP (VoIP) calls and experience lag-free LAN gaming. Delivering exceptional performance, quality, and reliability, the D-Link 5-port 10/100/1000 Desktop Switch (DGS-2205) is the right choice for expanding your wired network or setting up an extreme LAN gaming environment. Minimum System Requirements - Devices supporting 802.3 Ethernet, 802.3u Fast Ethernet, or 802.3ab Gigabit Ethernet; CAT5 Ethernet cable; Network Interface Card for each computer; CD-ROM drive Dimensions(WxDxH) - 5.81 x 4.45 x 1.24 Weight - 0.48 lbs
Product Description: The all-in-one iMac packs a complete, high-performance computer?including the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors?into a beautifully thin, anodized aluminum and glass design. The latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor runs at 2.4GHz with advanced 45-nm process technology and 6MB of shared L2 cache, allowing you to run your applications faster and more efficiently than ever before. iMac features a glossy 20-inch widescreen display and ATI Radeon HD graphics that gives a blow-you-away level of detail and realism in games, three-dimensional graphics, high-resolution photos, and high-definition video that comes alive with rich, vivid color. Built into the top of iMac is an iSight camera. You'll hardly notice it's there until you want to launch iChat, Photo Booth, or iMovie. iSight is easy to use and highly advanced. The remarkable picture quality and color accuracy make this tiny feature huge. With iLife '08, Mac OS X Leopard, built-in wireless, speakers, and ultrathin anodized aluminum Apple Keyboard, you'll be creating, sharing, surfing, and playing within minutes of opening the box. 20 Glossy Widescreen TFT Active-Matrix (1680 x 1050, 290 cd/m2, 800 - 1 contrast ratio, 160°H/V viewing angle) Liquid Crystal Display Built-in iSight Camera with Microphone ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB GDDR3 Dedicated Video Memory Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x Double-Layer burning (DVD+-RW/CD-RW) Stereo speakers with 24-watt Digital Amplifier AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) 3 x USB 2.0 (2 x USB ports on keyboard), FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Optical Digital Audio Output/Headphone out, Optical Digital Audio input/audio line in, mini-DVI with support for DVI, VGA, S-Video, and Composite Video connections via Optional Adapter, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 18.5? (H) x 19.1? (W) x 7.4? (D) Approximate Unit Weight - 20 Pounds
Amazon.com Product Description: Speedier than ever with the latest Intel dual-core processor, the Apple iMac all-in-one desktop PC sports a sleek, professional aluminum enclosure that's joined precisely to a 20-inch glass cover to create a virtually seamless front surface. It's powered by a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which includess an amazingly fast 1066 MHz front-side bus speed and super-sized 6 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts both speed and efficiency while helping to reduce power consumption. This dual-core processor also provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved multitasking, video, and gaming performance.
The iMac also features an ultra-thin aluminum Apple Keyboard--with an extended layout and dedicated keys for Mac features such as brightness, volume, eject, play/pause, and Exposé--as well as the wired Mighty Mouse. It's pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which enables easy backup of your most important data via Time Machine, a redesigned desktop that helps eliminate clutter. It also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications--including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes--and the newest version of the fast-loading Safari web browser.
Hardware features include a 250 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM (with a 4 GB maximum capacity), 8x SuperDrive for burning movies to DVD and music mixes to CD, integrated 802.11n wireless LAN, Gigabit Ethernet wired networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR connectivity, and ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT video card with 128 MB dedicated memory.
Power on a Pedestal
Designed with a recyclable anodized aluminum frame and glass cover, the iMac is friendlier to the environment..
The new keyboard's ultrathin anodized aluminum enclosure features low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel.
With its anodized aluminum frame set upon a sleek pedestal, the new iMac instantly transforms your workspace from cluttered desktop to brilliant display podium. Because the iMac's housing is made from a single sheet of aluminum, you won't see any seams or screws except for a single compartment on the bottom that provides easy access to the memory slots. The glossy widescreen 20-inch glass display makes photos and movies come alive with rich color. And the built-in iSight camera and microphone are integrated so neatly you barely notice they're there. Aside from the design details, the iMac is also friendlier to the environment with highly recyclable and durable materials including scratch-resistant glass and professional grade aluminum. The power-efficient iMac also meets the stringent new Energy Star 4.0 requirements.
With its elegant anodized aluminum enclosure, the new Apple Keyboard looks equally at home in your living room or on your desk. Just connect it to the USB port on your iMac and start enjoying the crisp, responsive feel of its low-profile keys. The extended layout has a full complement of keys, including document navigation controls, a numeric keypad, and special function keys for Mac features such as brightness, volume, eject, play/pause, Exposé, and more. Two USB 2.0 ports provide high-speed connectivity for your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, and other USB-based electronic devices.
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor Experience faster, more nimble application performance and improved energy efficiency with this 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor from Intel's 45nm Penryn lineup. The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--helps to reduce power consumption while delivering. powerful processing speeds. This 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor is aided by a 1066 front-side bus speed and a super-sized 6 MB L2 cache--both top-of-the-line for Intel's Penryn processors. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)
The Intel Core 2 Duo's 128-bit SSE3 vector engine handles 128-bit computations in a single clock cycle, accelerating data manipulation by simultaneously applying a single instruction to multiple data. And its two execution cores are designed to share resources and conserve power, helping it to achieve higher levels of performance since it uses fewer watts.
Hard Drive and Memory The 250 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0. The 1 GB of PC6400 DDR2 RAM (one SO-DIMM) has an industry-leading 800 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to 4 GB.
Graphics and Video The 20-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix LCD offers a resolution of 1680 by 1050 pixels. It has a brightness rating of 290 cd/m2 (candela per square meter), a contrast ratio of 800:1, and a viewing angle of 160 degrees (both horizontal and vertical). An ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics processor powers the iMac with 128 MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory. It features some of the most advanced graphics technology available and delivers new levels of visual realism and a huge texture fill rate for smooth surfaces and complex character details. GDDR3 (Graphics Double Data Rate, version 3) is a graphics card-specific memory technology that's better able to deliver fluid frame rates for even the most advanced games and applications.
This iMac also enables you to connect a second display in either extended desktop mode or video mirroring mode. The mini-DVI port connects to DVI displays, VGA monitors and projectors, and S-video and composite devices using the appropriate adapter (sold separately).
Wired and Wireless Connectivity
You get a full complement of ports on the back of the iMac, including three USB 2.0 and two flavors of Firewire--400 and 800.
The iMac gives you plenty of room to grow, accommodating as many as five peripherals at a time thanks to its three USB 2.0 ports and the two USB 2.0 ports on the Apple Keyboard. It also includes two powered FireWire ports--one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800 (one of the fastest peripheral standards available)--enabling you to quickly transfer content from digital video cameras, hard drives, and other high-speed devices.
Share files around your house with built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet as well as the next-generation high-speed wireless 802.11n technology, which is integrated into the latest Apple Airport Extreme Base Station. The iMac is also Wi-Fi Certified to work with base stations and routers that use industry-standard 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g wireless technologies.
The integrated Bluetooth wireless connectivity--version 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)--allows you to use a wireless keyboard or mouse, and synchronize peripherals such as cell phones and PDAs. Enjoy high-quality sound on almost any speaker system with double-duty analog/digital audio. Record digital and analog sources through audio line in, perfect for your latest podcast in GarageBand.
SuperDrive Integrated neatly into the iMac is a slot-loading SuperDrive that lets you play and burn your own CDs and DVDs--including double-layer DVDs. And there's no disc tray--just slide the disc right in. It offers the following speeds:
Writes DVD+R DL and DVD-R DL discs at up to 4x speed
Writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 8x speed
Writes DVD-RW at up to 6x speed and DVD+RW discs at up to 8x speed
Reads DVDs at up to 8x speed
Writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed
Writes CD-RW discs at up to 16x speed
Reads CDs at up to 24x speed
Other Features
Two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4 GB of RAM
Built-in stereo speakers with internal 24-watt digital amplifier
Support for external display in extended desktop mode: 1920 by 1200 pixels for digital and 2048 by 1536 pixels for analog
Meets ENERGY STAR requirements with maximum continuous power rating of 200 watts
Dimensions: 19.1 x 18.5 x 7.4 inches (WxHxD)
Preloaded with Leopard, you'll enjoy enhanced productivity and a clutter-free desktop (thanks to the the redesigned 3D Dock with Stacks).
Preloaded with Leopard and iLife '08 The biggest Mac OS X upgrade ever, the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system features over 300 new features, including:
Time Machine, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac
A redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs
Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application
Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them
A brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock
Major enhancements to Mail and iChat
Leopard's new desktop includes the redesigned 3D Dock with Stacks, a new way to organize files for quick and easy access with just one click. Leopard automatically places web, email and other downloads in a Downloads stack to maintain a clutter-free desktop, and you can instantly fan the contents of this and other Stacks into an elegant arc right from the Dock. The updated Finder includes Cover Flow and a new sidebar with a dramatically simplified way to search for, browse and copy content from any PC or Mac on a local network.
Time Machine lets you easily back up all of the data on your Mac, find lost files and even restore all of the software on their Mac. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac. In the event a file is lost, you can search back through time to find deleted files, applications, photos and other digital media and then instantly restore the file.
The iMac also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications that make it easy to live the digital life. Use iPhoto to share entire high-res photo albums with anyone who's got an email address. Break into indie filmmaking with iMovie and iDVD. Then take all the stuff you made on your iMac and share it on the web in one click with iWeb.
iLife '08 also features iWeb '08, with live web widgets such as Google Maps that let you create even more dynamic websites, and GarageBand '08, with its new Magic GarageBand feature that makes it fun and easy for both musicians and non-musicians to create great sounding songs.
Included Software Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools); iLife '08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand)
What's in the Box iMac, Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse, Apple Remote, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation
Amazon.com Product Description: Maximize your music and photo experience with easy-to-use, one-touch controls for audio playback and image editing. Enjoy superior comfort with soft-touch surfaces, adjustable keyboard angles, and industry-leading durability and reliability. Additional controls give you direct access to advanced features of Windows Vista â such as Document Flip and they´ll also work on Windows XP.
Features
Adjustable keyboard angles 3-way adjustable tilt legs enable a truly personalized experience. Choose the keyboard angle that maximizes your comfort and matches your style.
Programmable hot-keys Convenient hot-keys instantly open applications, games, folders, and web pages. To customize, simply hold down the desired hot-key with a long press.
Cordless laser mouse Edit photos with pixel precision, or use other features such as vertical or horizontal scrolling, or one-touch zoom.
Instant Access to Your Music Powerful, side-mounted controls give quick access to your favorite media applications, including Apple iTunes or Windows Media Player.
One-Touch Communication Stay in touch with a single touch. Manage your Internet communications with handy controls for launching email, messaging, or Internet call applications, and for adjusting volume.
Ready for Windows Vista Start key and handy DocFlip controls let you get the most out of Windows Vista. Great for Windows XP, too.
Premium comfort Integrated soft-touch palm rest provides premium comfort and extra support, and can help reduce fatigue
System Requirements
PC with Windows XP or Windows Vista
1 available USB port
CD-ROM drive
Package Contents
Logitech LX 710 Cordless Keyboard
Logitech LX 7 Cordless Laser Mouse
USB mini-receiver
4 AA alkaline batteries
CD with software, comfort guidelines, and help center
Quick-start guide
Full product support
5-Year limited hardware warranty
Product Description: Maximize your music and photo experience with easy-to-use, one-touch controls for audio playback and image editing. Enjoy superior comfort with soft-touch surfaces, adjustable keyboard angles, and industry-leading durability and reliability. Additional controls give you direct access to advanced features of Windows Vista such as Document Flip and they'll also work on Windows XP. 3-way adjustable tilt legs enable a truly personalized experience. Choose the keyboard angle that maximizes your comfort and matches your style. Convenient hot-keys instantly open applications, games, folders, and web pages. Edit photos with pixel precision, or use other features such as vertical or horizontal scrolling, or one-touch zoom System Requirements - PC with Windows XP or Windows Vista, 1 available USB port, CD-ROM drive
Amazon.com Product Description: The ProMedia 2.1 THX-Certified, three-piece computer audio system from Klipsch transforms your desktop into a high-performance audio entertainment center. Two 35-watt satellite speakers deliver full-bodied stereo sound, while a floor-thumping 130-watt subwoofer provides low-end slam from your favorite music, games, and movies, reaching down to an impressive 31 Hz.
The satellites' exclusive Klipsch MicroTractrix horn maximizes clarity and high-frequency dispersion from CDs, MP3s, streaming radio programs, and other audio. The high-output, digital-hybrid-amplifier-driven ProMedia 2.1 offers a convenient headphone jack and dual stereo analog inputs, one for a more or less hard-wired connection from your computer's line or headphone output jack, the second to accommodate a portable audio device such as an MP3 or minidisc player/recorder.
Klipsch operates with a philosophy that demands accuracy in every aspect of sound reproduction, which--in the case of the ProMedia 2.1--has resulted in THX Certification. THX is an exclusive set of standards established by the world-renowned film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd., and products undergo rigorous quality and performance tests in order to receive this certification.
What's in the Box Two satellite speakers, one subwoofer, two 9.5-foot lengths of speaker cable (22 gauge), a user's manual, and warranty information.
Product Description: ProMedia 2.1 THX-certified, three-piece computer audio system transforms your desktop into a high-performance audio entertainment center. Its exclusive Klipsch MicroTractrix horn maximizes digital technologies such as CDs, MP3 downloads, streaming radio programs, and other popular personal audio applications, and delivers a level of power and accuracy never before available. The 200-Watt digital hybrid amplifier driven ProMedia 2.1 incorporates a convenient headphone jack as well as a miniplug input that makes it compatible with gaming consoles and most portable audio devices.
The NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch offers:
Five gigabit ports for fast data transfers.
Auto-sensing ports that eliminate manual switches.
Fanless design for silent operation.
The NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch provides your local area network (LAN) with reliable 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing connectivity for five users.
At Gigabit speeds, even large video files are transferred quickly. View larger.
Sturdy and Reliable Design NETGEAR's GS100 series desktop switches are housed in a compact sturdy metal case designed without the need for internal fans, keeping operation both silent and more reliable. It can be placed on a flat surface or you can use the included wall mount kit to hide it away on the wall.
Simple Setup and Stellar Performance Plug in your Ethernet cables and connect a power cord, and you're ready to go. There is no software to install or settings to configure. The switch features auto-sensing ports which automatically obtains the fastest possible connection. There are no toggle switches or special crossover cables. The switch will honor priority tags at both the Layer 2 and Layer 3 level if you have your network set to support jumbo frames.
Every port supports up to 2000 Mbps in dedicated bandwidth. Automatic flow control ensures smooth traffic. There is a queue buffer memory of 12 kbytes per port and a MAC address database size of 4,000. The switch has status LEDs for power, and link, speed, and activity for each port.
The NETGEAR GS105 ProSafe 5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Desktop Switch has a Mean Time Between Failure of 91,500 hours and is backed by a lifetime warranty. The power adapter is backed by a 2-year warranty.
What's in the Box GS105 Desktop Switch, wall-mount kit, power adapter, installation guide, warranty/support information card.
Product Description: The GS105 ProSafe 5 Port Gigabit Desktop Switch is a compact powerhouse with the long-lasting performance you can really count on. It features five auto-speed-sensing 10/100/1000 Mbps UTP ports. Its advanced design lets you integrate 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps devices onto your network painlessly. Its trim design makes it an easy fit for a desk or mounted on a wall. LEDs embedded in RJ-45 jacks make for easy monitoring Noiseless operation Durable metal chassis form factor Supports PC or Mac
