The Razer Black Widows ultimate gaming keyboard is a fully mechanical keyboard that provides tactile feedback that gives you better response times. Each individual key lit with an LED and has 5 levels of lighting and the keyboard is fully programmable, with marco recording in an easy configuration setting. It will retail for around $130

Full Specs:

• Full mechanical keys with 50g actuation force
• Individually backlit keys with 5 levels of lighting
• 1000Hz Ultrapolling™ / 1ms response time
• Programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording
• Gaming mode option for deactivation of the Windows key
• 10 customizable software profiles with on-the-fly switching
• 5 additional macro keys
• Gaming optimized key matrix for minimized ghosting
• Multi-Media Controls
• Braided cable
• Audio-Out / Mic-In Jacks
• USB-Passthrough
• Approx. size in mm: 475(L) x 171(W) x 30(H)
• Weight: 1.5kg

System Requirements

• PC with USB port
• Windows® 7 / Windows Vista® / Windows® XP
• Internet connection (for driver installation)
• At least 35MB of hard disk space

Mozilla has release their first beta of Firefox 4  which includes updates such as the Gecko 2.0 engine, tabs on top (windows only) a new extension manager, HD HTML 5 WedDM video format support, crash protection and a new HTML5 engine. Read on for more info and the link to the download.

Release notes

• Tabs are now on top by default on Windows only – OSX and Linux will bechanging when the theme has been modified to support the change.
• On Windows Vista and Windows 7 the menu bar has been replaced with theFirefox button.
• You can search for and switch to already open tabs in the Smart Location Bar
• New Addons Manager and extension management API (UI will be changed before final release)
• Significant API improvements are available for JS-ctypes, a foreign function interface for extensions.
• The stop and reload buttons have been merged into a single button on Windows, Mac and Linux.
• The Bookmarks Toolbar has been replaced with a Bookmarks Button by default (you can switch it back if you’d like).
• Crash protection for Windows, Linux, and Mac when there is a crash in the Adobe Flash, Apple Quicktime or Microsoft Silverlight plugins.
• CSS Transitions are partially supported.
• Full WebGL support is included but disabled by default at this time.
• Core Animation rendering model for plugins on Mac OS X. Plugins which also support this rendering model can now draw faster and more efficiently.
• Native support for the HD HTML5 WebM video format.
• An experimental Direct2D rendering backend is available on Windows, turned off by default.
• Web developers can use Websockets for a low complexity, low latency, bidirectional communications API.
• Web developers can update the URL field without reloading the page usingHTML History APIs.
• More responsive page rendering using lazy frame construction.
• Link history lookup is done asynchronously to provide better responsiveness during pageload.
• CSS :visited selectors have been changed to block websites from being able to check a user’s browsing history.
• New HTML5 parser.
• Support for more HTML5 form controls.\

Download Firefox 4 Beta 1 Here!

Since even before its release on October 22nd, 2009, many people have been asking me this question?  Should I upgrade to Windows 7? Am I going to have another Vista debacle on my hands? Are my programs really going to work this time?  Well in think video I answer that question and more.  Check it out.

Microsoft has finally release the pricing for Windows 7 and its cheaper than Windows Vista.  The upgrade plans have been announce for users that purchase PC after June 26th will receive a free upgrade copy if the manufacture chooses to support the program. 

There will also be a pre-order program to get the upgrade disc at half the price they will normally sell for.  For example if Windows 7 Home Premium cost $120 it will be $50 to upgrade if you go through the pre-order program.  Windows Ultimate will not be in this upgrade plan but may have its own later on. 

In Euro countries since IE 8 is not allowed to be bundled the pre-orders will be different.  Starting July 15th they will only be able to purchase Full copies of Windows 7. Which some say they will have to now do a full clean install and lose their programs.  I don’t think this will be the case since even on a Full disc they have an upgrade option when you begin the install it just seems that those countries will not benefit from upgrade pricing.

So far this sound like a plan to get as many people off Vista as Microsoft can and make it affordable to do so.  So far all the reviews have been positive on the new OS. 

Read on to get the whole US pricing break down.

Upgrade Pre-order Deal  (until supplies last)

• Windows 7 Home Premium: Upgrade price $120,  Pre-Order Deal: $50
• Windows 7 Professional;  Upgrade Price $100,  Pre-Order Deal: $100

Windows 7 Ultimate is not apart of this plan but the is speculation it may get its own Pre-Order incentive.

Official Prices

• Windows 7 Home Premium: $120 for upgrade; $200 for full version
• Windows 7 Professional: $200 for upgrade; $300 for full version
• Windows 7 Ultimate: $220 for upgrade; $320 for full version

Windows 7 Starter will be available to Dell, HD and netbook manufactures to put on future netbooks.  Other SKU seen will only be available in Euro and emerging markets.

Microsoft has release a beta of their new anti-malware software call Microsoft Security Essentials (formerly codenamed: Morro).  The beta is available in limited numbers (rumored to be around 75,000) and is available for the US, Israel and Brazil currently.  You will need to sign in with a Live ID and fill out a questionnaire form before being able to download it. You will also need to pass WGA as well.  The software will support Window XP, Windows Vista (32bit & 64bit) and Windows 7 (32bit & 64bit)  Read on to grab the link to sign up and download.  We will be taking this for a test drive as well to see what it offers.

Microsoft Security Essentials Beta Site

With not so much fanfare the second service pack for Windows Vista is now available for 32-bit and 64-bit systems.  No major changes are included in this service pack but updates to networking and search are a few things listed.  I sure there are a few people out there looking forward to this but if your not already using Windows 7 RC1 then I don’t know what you are waiting for. 

Check out the change list inside of improvements of Windows Vista SP2 and the download links are inside too. 

Windows Server 2008 uses the same SP2 as Vista so when you click to download the title of the download page is correct!

List of notable improvements in Windows Vista SP2

• Hardware and software compatibility enhancements have been made
• Improvements to Windows Media Center when using TV functionality
• SP2 removes the limit of 10 half open outbound TCP connections. By default, SP2 has no limit on the number of half open outbound TCP connections which should improve your network speed and not have the random slowdown that can occur
• Built-in Blu-Ray Disc burning
• Vista Feature Pack for Wireless has been included to support Bluetooth 2.1 and WCN Wi-Fi configurations
• Windows Search 4.0 is now built in to SP2

Nothing major but some small stuff to look into. If you are running Windows Vista you should definitely upgrade at the links below

32-Bit  or 64-Bit

Also system requirements have been listed as well which are definitely less power hungry than Windows Vista.

• 1GHz processor (32- or 64-bit)
• 1GB of main memory
• 16GB of available disk space
• Support for DX9 graphics with 128MB of memory (for the Aero interface)
• A DVD-R/W drive

Windows Live has also been announced as globally available. Some items are still in beta in the suite.

Adding to the Dell Inspiron Mini series is the Mini 12 coming in December which is the older brother with a bit more muscle versus its Mini 9 counterpart. Starting at $549.99 with Windows Vista Home Basic is the follow specs.

$549.99

• 1.33Ghz Atom Processor
• 1GB Ram
• 40GB HD
• 1 year warranty

$599.99 (after $55 Instant Savings)

• 1.6Ghz Atom Processor
• 1GB Ram
• 60GB HD
• 6 Cell Battery
• 1 year warranty

$649.99  (after $80 instant Savings)

• Same as $599.99 but includes 80GB Hard Drive

Click below to go directly to the Inspiron Mini Dell page for full specs

Dell Inspiron Mini 12 Spec Page

Looks like the Verizon Holiday PDA lineup rumors are becoming true as the Samsung Saga will be available this Friday. CDMA/GSM World phone PDA with Window Mobile 6.1 Professional and  320×320 touchscreen and full keyboard on the front.  Don’t have pricing just yet but read on to get the spec list.

Updated:

Pricing is as follow

2 years $49.99

1 Year $199.99

No Contract $349.99

Full Feature List

Specifications

Included Accessories

Dell announced a new Inspiron Mini 12 to accompany the  Inspiron Mini 9 in their line of netbooks.  Available only in Japan currently but expected to his the US in November the Inspiron Mini 12 packs more power for the size but still keeps its netbook roots. Read on to see quick specs and grab the link to the Dell Japan website that has more pics.

Quick Specs

• 1.3GHz Atom Z520 or 1.6GHz Atom Z530
• Windows Vista Home (XP and Ubuntu options toward the end of the year)
• 12.1-inch 1280 x 800 display
• 1GB of RAM
• Hard drive: 60 GB or 80 GB
• Integrated Bluetooth / WiFi
• Standard 3-cell (3 hour life) and optional 6-cell (6 hour life) battery
• 2.7 lbs (with 3-cell battery)

Dell Japan Site (Click on picture on the top to get to the gallery)