Thx Desktop Themes

Dell Inspiron One IO2305-4429MSL

The Dell Inspiron One IO2305-4429MSL ($849.99 list at Best Buy) all-in-one desktop is a vast improvement over the version from last holiday season. It has a faster processor, Blu-ray player, and more inputs, for an identical price. It's pretty close to an ideal HD video consumption system, and online HD videos look pretty good on the system's 23-inch screen. This system is perfect for the Blu-ray collector and people lucky enough to be in range of an over the air HTDV station.

Design and Features
The IO2305-4429MSL is the newest version of the year-old Dell Inspiron One IO2305-3114MSL ($849.99 list, 2.5 stars), so it's no surprise that it's visually identical to last year's model. Its main feature is a 23-inch screen with full 1080p HD (1,920-by-1,080) resolution. The screen is large and bright, if not quite as sharp as rivals like the Toshiba DX1215-S2101 ($879.99 list, 3.5 stars) or Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,199 list, 4.5 stars). The desktop rests on two thin feet on the front, and an adjustable stand in back, which gives the user plenty of storage space under the system for the keyboard and mouse. The mouse and keyboard are both wireless, connecting to the PC via a USB dongle. The IO2305-4429MSL comes with a multimedia keyboard, featuring a comfortable key feel and multimedia controls like a rotary volume control.

The IO2305-4429MSL has six USB 2.0 ports, but no USB 3.0 or eSATA. It has more than enough ports for today's peripherals, but you'll be out of luck if you use faster storage like a USB 3.0 or eSATA hard drive. On the bright side, the desktop comes with not one, but three external video-in ports: HDMI, VGA, and good old composite video. There are a few ways you can use this plethora of connectivity. You can hook up an external set top box like a cable company DVR, and use it as a TV). You can hook up another laptop to the system, for quick multitasking. You can even hook up an older game system or VCR using the composite video port. Plus, you can connect a newer PC once the CPU and graphics become "too slow," extending the life of the monitor beyond the point when the PC becomes obsolete. I think HDMI-in is absolutely necessary for any large-screen all-in-one desktop priced over $700, since it will give you that added life in the future.

The Inspiron One's built-in speakers have a THX TruSound logo on them, and they are reasonably clear, but the sound is soft. When I turned up the volume up on the desktop, it barely registered at levels above a normal conversation. If you want to rock the house or replicate a movie theater experience, you'll either need to hook up external speakers or use headphones. The desktops built-in HDTV tuner was able to grab plenty of HD signals in our New York City-based PC Labs, viewing live HDTV was a cinch in Window 7's Media Center interface.

THX: 3D TV adoption at home is inevitable : Audio Impact

Http://www.techradar.com/news/television/thx-3d-tv-adoption-at-home-is-inevitable-959385?src=rss&attr=news

Having worked on Star Wars with George Lucas and Aliens with James Cameron, Rick Dean knows a thing or two about making sure audiences experience movies the way filmmakers originally intended. And in the 3D era that’s exactly what Dean, senior vice president at sound and picture guru THX, is fighting to achieve in the home. “Whether someone gets up in the morning planning to buy a 3D TV is almost irrelevant,” says Dean of his theory that 3D TV adoption at home is inevitable. “Come the end of the day that person very well might own one because these 3D panels that are being considered by consumers are also exceptional quality 2D panels.”

The problem with the future of the 3D home isn’t the TVs themselves - most mid-to-high-end models are 3D Ready, like it or not - but the “lack of content,” says Dean. “We went through a rather interesting time in the last year. There was a lot of momentum behind 3D displays, but rather less behind 3D content, which is sorely needed. I believe fully that 3D is going to be a component in everybody’s entertainment experience; it may not be the number one draw but it will certainly be an important part.” Dean also admits that it could very well be gaming that drives 3D adoption in some homes where “the 14-year old owns the remote control”.

3D movies

For film directors, Dean thinks the advent of 3D is a huge step forward, but that we should look beyond even a home cinema for its future. “It adds to storytellers’ arsenals of tools to tell their stories, but the attention-grabbing qualities of stereoscopic 3D images means it’s not just entertainment that benefits from 3D. It’s only one part of 3D technology, with digital signage also going 3D, while there’s a lot of innovation in education, medical and desktop 3D applications in the office.” As a video purist (you’ll find THX Certification - something that allows Hollywood-grade video calibration at home - on new TVs from the likes of LG and Panasonic) that thinks 3D brings new opportunities for film directors, it’s no surprise that Dean isn’t so keen on some of the ‘faked’ 3D content we’ve seen so far.

HWM

Sound & vision

Maximum PC

Information technology encyclopedia and acronyms

Building extreme PCs, the complete guide to computer modding