Univega Alpina HT-550 Mountain Bike gets you onto the rough stuff

After many years of absence from the UK market, Univega have come back with a slew of new offerings. One of these include the Alpina HT-550 and I was lucky enough to be sent one for our Christmas reviews. This particular mountain bike sits somewhere in the middle of the company's range and offers you the opportunity to get hold of something that looks a little bit special for just over £500. Again, as in my previous MTB review, the HT-550 offers a lot more than those cheap off-the-shelf bikes. With its Shimano component mix, including an XT drivetrain and SLX shifters, when you catch your first glimpse of the bike you will know you have something special. This is a hardtail, so no rear suspension, but up front you get a Rock Shox Tora-SL fork with 100mm of travel. The Rock Shox really does eat up the bumps and is very responsive. The Concept SL saddle, seatpost, stem and handlebar are a nice match and feel very well made. They are not that heavy either, all adding up to a pretty decent weight bike. Avid Juicy 3 hydraulic disc brakes serve up your stopping power and in my rides out on the HT-550 they performed very well. They provide a no fuss solution really and provide more than adequate braking ability.
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Fenix Torch and Lockblock Holder - MTB Review

For many a biker, adequate lighting for dusk or night time riding is often overlooked. For the serious MTB enthusiast, having good, powerful, directional lighting with the right type of beam is essential. Dedicated bike lights start at very cheap and not that effective, right up to £500 for a pro set-up. There is another option though and it is one that could please many a gadget lover this Christmas. Personally, I really like LED torches. Don't ask me why, but my fascination over how such a vast amount of light can be produced by some of these torches amazes me. I keep one in my car and another under my sink. Then I stumbled across the Fenix range of torches and the kind guys at The Photon Shop kindly sent us a Fenix L2D Q5 plus a little gadget called a LockBlock for attaching the torch to my mountain bike.

So, let's take a look at the LockBlock first. This little device costs just under £9. It is very simple, but works very well indeed. It comprises of a double-sided U-shaped rubber mount, with two velcro loops threaded through. You attach the LockBlocks to your handlebar, tighten the velcro. Then get your torch, tighten the second velcro loop and voila, your torch is rock solid on your bike. On my rides with this set-up attached things stayed firmly in place. The torch bounced around with the bike of course, but did not budge from the LockBlock mount. Very impressed with this product, simplicity in design paid of and at £9 it is a bargain.

Onto the Fenix torch. This is the first LED flashlight I have reviewed, so my comparisons are made against a £30 Cateye bike specific light. The Fenix L2D Q5 is a lot longer than a regular light, measuring just under 15cm. Even though this is quite long, it does not get in your way when riding. The diameter is 2.1cm, so as mentioned before, it fits nicely in the LockBlock, but if you do use it off the bike, then it is very pocketable. On the bike on night time trails it is awesome. At its highest output you get 180 lumens of output. Running on two AA batteries I was also amazed that it kept going for almost two hours. The beam is very concentrated too, with little spill, so seeing ground hazards was very easy. When I ventured onto the road, cars and other vehicles gave me plenty of room, so I must have been very visible. You can also soft touch the rubber on/off button which changes the brightness, plus you can turn the bezel very slightly to change modes from general to turbo mode. In general mode you get three different brightness levels and an SOS mode. In turbo mode, you get the full 180 lumens plus a fast flashing strobe mode.

Wow, what a torch... lifetime warranty on the LED, waterproof to IPX-8 standard and a toughened optical glass lens. The build is superb and the body of the torch is a hard anodized finish. Dropping it (although not recommended) had not effect and it remained unmarked throughout reviewing it.

The Fenix L2D Q5 is so solidly built and such a useful tool that I just hope that it does not have to go back. This is really a great deal. You get two presents in one. A nice solid torch with awesome light output for the ultimate gadget lover. Plus, you have the ability to use it an a very effective bike light. For this sort of money, what more could you ask? If you buy this particular Fenix torch and a LockBlock it comes to just under £50... highly recommended.

**More photos to follow**

Product: Fenix L2D Q5 Flashlight Torch
Price: £38.95
Product: Twofish LockBlock Bike Mount
Price: £8.94
Supplied by: The Photon Shop
Contact: 02920 407203

Altec Lansing FX3022 Speaker Review - pump up the bass

When choosing speakers for your PC or iPod there are certainly plenty to choose from. What manufacturers seem to try are adding flashy lights, docking features, touch sensitive controls. These are all well and good, but often at the expense of more useful features, like sound quality, frequency handling, and good looks. With the FX3022 from Altec Lansing, they may just have got the mix right.

When you unpack these beauties, it is obvious that their gloss black exterior and good weight is hiding some goodies under the hood. The FX3022 are really quite large, but they are tapered towards the top and in such a way that it is very pleasing to the eye. The 1.5-inch drivers at the top protrude slightly and offer up 3.5 watts of mid and high range frequencies. These tiny driver are covered by cloth grills, which add to the quality feel. The only thing that detracts slightly from the value is that the main unit does feel a little bit too plasticky. Each speaker also house a downward firing 4-inch subwoofer, that goes down to 40Hz and is capable of delivering 9 watts per channel. This combination is pretty good, with the subwoofer seamlessly integrating into the speaker and filling the frequency gap.

On top of one of the speakers you also find a nice power button and volume controls. These are discrete and function admirably. The FX3022 is really designed as a PC speaker, equally at home connected to our iMac or a PC. However, around the back of the unit is an AUX in jack, so you can connect your iPod or other MP3 player and enjoy your tunes. I tested with both music playing from my iMac and from an iPod touch and in both cases was pleasantly surprised. The detail in the mid and high ranges was very good, the FX3022 never seemed to struggle. There was also a nice warmth to the sound. The subwoofer control was awesome, with deep frequencies sounding as though they were reaching far beyond the quoted 40Hz. Pumping up the volume for some movie watching was also a pleasure. Explosions seemed to set the FX3022 alive and added a great deal of enjoyment to the on-screen action. The same can be said with games, without the FX3022 speakers the sound was quite thin, but with these gorgeous speakers turned on I was fully immersed in my Call of Duty.

Available in black (as reviewed) or white, for your £100, you get a really good set of multi-purpose speakers. The material used to make them does feel a little cheap, but the sound they deliver more than makes up for that. They are equally at home delivering in-game sound, movie madness or simply relaxing with your favourite tunes. Oh, and the guys at Altec Lansing throw in a two year warranty for good measure.

Product: Altec Lansing FX3022 Speakers
Price: £99.99
Supplied by: Altec Lansing
Contact: +44 (0)870 458 0011

Trek 6700 Mountain Bike Review

Another of my Christmas reviews and before anyone emails me, I know that a lot of people are struggling with their finances, but imagine this, if you treat yourself to the Trek 6700 I am reviewing here, you would save absolutely tonnes of money on expensive fuel bills, tax and insurance. On top of the great savings you will have a load of fun and get fit at the same time.

The purpose of this review is to really show you that there are worthwhile alternatives to those cheap bikes. You know the sort, the ones that come in a box, like flat-pack furniture and you spend an age putting them together, never really knowing if you have missed an important part. With mountain bikes, you really do get what you pay for. In the Trek 6000 range, you can get a really decent ride starting at £550 for the 6000, going all the way up to £950 for the 6700 that I have the pleasure of riding.

You get the same Alpha Black Aluminum frame, but you get massive component upgrades that make the bike lighter and more responsive. On the front the RockShox Recon Race Solo Air suspension forks offer up 100mm of travel, that can be adjusted to vary the amount of rebound as well as locking them completely (which you make well do for road use). The gear shifters, crank, brakes, front and rear derailleur are all Shimano SLX. This really makes sense and is what drew me toward the 6700. Rather than a mix and match affair, Trek did this model right. Although SLX is meant to be one step under their XT offerings, I think it is not that far behind. It is light, gear changes are very smooth and the hydraulic disc brakes are awesome. Those disc brakes offer up a 160mm rotor on the back and 180mm on the front. In my tests, both dry and wet, they have given me wicked stopping power. They are also my first experience of disc brakes, so it was really nice that I could easily adjust the reach of my brake levers without messing around as much as I would with V-Brakes.

The tyres on the 6700 are really chunky. The Bontrager Jones XR, 26x2.2/2.25" really offer superb amounts of grip. However, I have spent a bit of time on the road and they do not roll that well, so I may well change them for my road use. The saddle, seatpost, handlebars and stem are also Bontrager branded. Again, this makes sense as they are pretty high quality and also make the bike look very nice. Bontrager welded rims finish off the superb look, with a very nice paint job carried out by Trek. The white frame with red and black decals really does look the part. The weight of the complete bike is very light indeed and makes it a joy to use, very manageable. This is another area that you will find it hard to compete in at this level. Certainly cheaper bikes are a LOT heavier.

It is the quality of components and superb finish to the frame that really makes the Trek 6700 stand out from the crowd. It is quite lively to ride, with the saddle being the only thing I would really like to change (just a little too hard for me). On road it is plush, but struggles because of the tyres. Offroad it is a real pleasure to ride, it just eats up all the mud and handles inclines with ease. The power you can get down through the pedals and into the drivechain simply rockets the 6700 ahead of the pack. If you can afford it, go for one, if not then look at a little lower down the range. Please don't buy one of these cheaper supermarket bikes with big suspension, just because it looks good. With the Trek 6700 you are investing just as much in a superb frame, it just so happens you get superb components too.

Product: Trek 6700 Mountain Bike
Price: £950
Supplied by: Activ
Contact: +44 (0)1303 240110

Garmin Oregon 400t Handheld SatNav Review

It is the season to be jolly... well almost and in true Christmas spirit I am really excited to kick of our alternative reviews section with something very special. If you have a loved one (and that includes yourself), that loves getting out and about, this will be of interest to you. Maybe hiking or walking is your thing, or a bit of geocaching, or maybe you like to get out on your mountain bike for a good cross country hack. The Garmin Oregon 400t that I have in my grubby mitts can handle all this and a lot more, so please read on...

In the run up to Christmas, Geekanoids will be bringing you a series of reviews on products that get you out and about. Our very next review is on the Trek 6700 mountain bike, which is where the Oregon 400t got its second outing, the first outing found it on our Specialized steed. This tiny handheld satellite navigation system is beautifully made. Its compact size allows it to fit your hand like a glove, measuring just 5.8 x 11.4 x 3.5 cm. Even with batteries installed, it only just goes over the 200g mark (192.7g without). Whilst out biking I would recommend you have both hands planted firmly on your handlebars. So, Garmin kindly made a really simple, yet effective, bike mount for the device. Once attached to your bike, it is a simple matter of turning on, waiting about 15-20 seconds for it to lock onto a signal and a couple of touches on the screen has it recording your route. The touch screen is wonderfully easy to use and a good resolution too at 240x400 pixels. The screen is a little difficult to read in bright sunlight, so could do with a bit better backlight or maybe a different coating to the screen, but it was certainly not a deal breaker. Finding your way around the device is really easy and if you have ever used a Garmin in-car satnav you will feel instantly at ease. So, whilst concentrating on the riding, the 400t was left to do its thing, constantly updating our speed and elevation. I had a TOPO Great Britain map memory card installed into the device. This is an extra cost (£100) and adds a lot more detail onto the device. I think without it, the 400t is fine for on-road use where the basemap detail is fine, but if you are going for long hikes or off-road biking, then the TOPO is great value and recommended.

Back home and the route was plotted. We have done just over 17 miles and it gave us an insight into our maximum speed, moving time, average, stopped time and overall average speed. We also had access to loads more information such as an Elevation Plot and even a 3D view. If we had a chum with another Oregon we could even wirelessly share the route. At the base of the device you have a rubber flap that reveals a USB connection. So, onto my trusty Mac and I downloaded the relevant drivers. It was a little confusing as to what I needed, but 30 minutes saw me a happy camper. I started with Route Buddy, which showed my route on-screen, albeit on a rather basic map. To get a more detailed map into Route Buddy I would have to buy a TOPO map DVD, so I looked for another solution. Garmin suggested MapMyRide, which is a cool website and free to register and use. I transferred my route to the website and overlayed the Google Hybrid Satellite view and voila, this is what I needed (see screenshot). What I could do from here is save my route and/or edit it, or even create a new route and then push it back onto the 400t. I could also use the web-based workout calculator, which sort of turns my mapping oriented 400t into a fitness device too.

With a route planned and back on the 400t, it was out on the road again. Touching the GO button, I was guided around my route. There are no turn-by-turn voice prompts, but then this is not a car based device, it is really for walking with. It got rained upon with a few showers and a bit muddy, but worked flawlessly. A quick wipe down with a damp cloth brought the Oregon 400t back to its former glory. Having been used for about eight hours constantly, the battery level had not even moved, so I imagine 20/25 hours of use will be easily achievable. The fact that this unit runs on two standard AA batteries makes it very easy to pick up new ones if you are on holiday. I will update this review once the device runs out of juice. The screenshot to the left shows the main screen that appears when you first turn the unit on. Lovely large icons mean that it is easy to use, even with gloves on. You can clearly see the battery meter, along with the satellite signal strength just below.

The Garmin Oregon 400t is not a cheap device, though there are other models further down the range. What it does offer though is a wealth of very useful features. Other than those already mentioned, you get a compass, image viewer, dedicated geocaches function, route planner (actually on the 400t), area calculation, calculator, alarm clock, stopwatch and some other features that would make this list just too extensive. It really is the ultimate handheld satellite navigation system. It is waterproof, rugged and so well made and thought out, that it is worth every penny.

In a couple of weeks we will be bringing you a review of the Garmin Edge 705, which is bike specific, so keep an eye on Geekanoids for this exciting review.

Thanks to Rob for his invaluable input in this review, it was very helpful and important to have the views of an experienced rider.

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Product: Garmin Oregon 400t
Price: £399.99 (400t) : £69.99 (TOPO SE England & Wales microSD) : £12.99 (Bike Mount)
Supplied by: Garmin UK
Contact: +44 (0)870 8501242

Epson GT-1500 Scanner Review

In the age of digital photography, the work of a scanners seems to be a lot less. They still have their place in your computer set-up though. Scanning in high resolution photos is essential if you are reproducing anything in print. If you combine this requirement with the need to scan lots of documents, then you need to look at something a little more capable though. I was lucky enough to be sent an Espon GT-1500 scanner to review and this smart device sits in the business category, but could find its way as a very useful addition to the SOHO sector too.

The GT-1500 is not a lot larger than a regular flatbed scanner. The clue is in the height though, where you find a very useful and robust-feeling Automatic Document Feeder or ADF for short. The unit is made really nicely, it feels like a premium product. Even though it is primarily a plastic affair, it certainly feels solid. Setting up is really easy and installs Epson's suite of software, as well as Twain compatible plug-ins to the likes of Photoshop.

Using the unit as a standard flatbed scanner takes advantage of the full 1200x2400dpi optical resolution. I was impressed by the preview speed, as well as the actual final scan speed. For my tests I mainly used Photoshop, but using the EpsonScan software produced almost identical results. Colours in photographs remained true and had good depth and detail. Black and white photos were very neutral with a very slight green tinge. Scanning white sheets of text and business graphics resulted in crisp text scan, with hardly any shading.

The ADF on the top of the GT-1500 was my area of interest here, as this is what you are paying extra for. Using the ADF you can scan up to 600x1200dpi. The scanner head is simplex, so you can only scan one side at a time, but you can load up about 40 pages (though I did manage 50) and leave this baby doing its thing. It automatically de-skews wonky scans well, and a few that I noticed fed a little off-line wre fine in the resulting scan. I love the ability to scan direct to PDF files, as the results are easily filed and searchable, it is a very useful feature. Epson quote 12ppm in colour and 18ppm in mono, this is pretty accurate. The actual scanning I acheived was 10ppm in full colour and 17ppm when doing text based pages. This is only scanning time though, so if you have a really slow computer it'll take a little extra time to process the scans. My 2.4GHz iMac flew through them though, so I was very happy at the end of my testing.

At just over £200 you are paying about an extra £100 over a standard flatbed of comparable quality for the ADF function. Add to this that you get a one year on-site warranty. Throw into the mix all that added functionality and you can see that the GT-1500 offers very good value for money. The ADF really is the icing on the cake and gets my thumbs up.

Product: Epson GT-1500 Scanner
Price: £229 (average UK)
Supplied by: Epson UK
Contact: +44 (0)8702 416900

Ricoh GX200 Digital Camera Review

I gave up my digital SLR (Canon 400D) for this Ricoh GX200, it was a difficult decision, but it was done for many reasons. The first was size. I found myself out and about a lot, forever wishing I had my 400D with me, but it was too cumbersome to carry everywhere. The second was concerts, try getting into a concert with a big SLR, not a chance.

So, with both those problems solved, the GX200 was always in my pocket and even in the month I have had it, the opportune photos have made me smile. The camera is very compact, think of a small Sony or Canon Powershot, but with a VERY professional feel to it. The only things that makes this a little bigger is the lens protrudes a little from the front. This didn't bother me though, because I had gained a really useful, compact, 12 megapixel shooter.

Around the back is a nice sized screen, very crisp and clear. When you rotate the camera, the image rotates too. It has an electronic level in it too, so you can sure of take square-on and level horizon shots. The menu system is really easy to navigate and the controls (although there are quite a few buttons) are superbly laid out. The top dial allows you to take photos in Auto, Manual, Program and Scene modes. You also get three sections on this top dial where you can store your favourite settings, which is really useful. The flash is on a separate slider switch, so can easily be activated or turned off.

What I really like;
The 1:1 square mode is superb. I use this to take photos for my website and they come out square. So I do not need to crop them after putting them on my Mac. I also love the three presets for storing my settings. They are so easily accessible on that top dial by selecting MY1, MY2, or MY3. Plus, the manual controls make this feel very creative. It sets itself apart from the cheaper run-of-the-mill models though, with rich, detailed images, that seem to pop, rather than be very flat in their appearance. I must admit, that I am not missing my digital SLR at all.
I used this little wonder at two of my recent exhibition outings. Taking photos all day at MacLiveExpo and the Stuff Live events, without any problems at all. I think you will agree that the photos I took look pretty darn good.

Also, in with this kit I got the VF-1 electronic viewfinder. This add-on attaches just behind where the flash pops up. It gives you a tiny little screen, that replicates the image and all of the information that you get on the main display. A tiny button just above the main screen, allows you to switch between the EVF and the 2.7-inch screen. Now, I love the large screen, it is so clear and bright, making it a joy to use. However, since using the GX200 at the exhibitions, I have found a couple of outdoor situations, where the sun was so bright. So, I popped the VF-1 on and the problem was solved. So, if I am ever planning photos outside, I pop the tiny EVF in my pocket (in the supplied case).

What I don't like;
The lens cap is really bad. It is not integrated, so you have to put it in your pocket when you are using the camera, or leave it dangling on the string. I spent an extra £12 on a pop open lens cover, that remains on the GX200 all the time.

This is a professional piece of kit. Produces superb photos and the battery lasts ages (about 400 photos). It was well worth spending the extra on this brand for the build quality alone. Add into the equation that you get fantastic quality images too, on par with up to £500 digital SLR's and you have a real winner.

Product: Ricoh GX200 VF-1 Kit
Price: £359.00
Supplied by: Clifton Cameras
Contact: +44 (0)1435 548128

This review is sponsored by Clifton Cameras.

Brenthaven Edge II for Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch

Wow, I cannot rate this product enough. This is a slimline carry case for the Apple MacBook Pro. It is not a full on, carry-it-all bag, nor is it one of those tight fitting sleeves. Instead it offers just the right amount of capacity to carry your laptop with a few extra bits to that important meeting, to work, or when popping to a friends house.

The case does not actually measure much more than the 15-inch MacBook Pro itself. Rough size is about 40cm(W) by 31cm)H) by 6cm(D). On the front of the case is a smaller zipped pocket which is roughly 22cm wide by 16cm high. On the back you get a pocket that has a single velcro fastening, this one is big enough for an A4 pad of about 40 sheets. The top has a nice padded handle, which goes flat into the top of the case when not in use. There is also two metal buckles to the top sides of the case for use with the supplied shoulder strap. The strap is padded nicely and has quick release metal attachments.

The main inner of the case zips completely open around three sides. You then place your laptop into it face down. This means that your laptop lid is against the part of the case with the most padding. The flap has some rigid board in it and four rubber pads (one in each corner) that help to protect your lappie from bumps. Around the four edges are nice padded strips, and just outside these strips is yet more rigid inserts. It is a very lightweight case, but really does offer some decent protection. The styling is nice too, in black and silver, with some silver stitch detailing too.

I was using this with a new (late 2008 unibody) 15-inch MacBook Pro, which was a nice snug fit. I was very happy with just what a perfect size the padding was. The older MacBook Pro was also tested and fitted just the same.

It is readily available from various places for under £30 which I think represents great value for money. It means you can travel very easily with all that you need (apart from your power adapter), but with 4/5 hours of battery life, that shouldn't pose a problem.

Product: Brenthaven Edge II
Price: £34.99 : £29 (average)
Supplied by: Brenthaven UK
Contact: +44 (0)20 8400 1275

TNA Impact on Sony PS3 Review

Something a little different from me this week, taking a look at Midway Game's TNA Impact. Superb wrestling action on the Sony PS3 is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Product: TNA Impact (PS3)
Price: £44.99 (RRP) : £26.00 (average)
Supplied by: Midway Games
Contact: +44 (0) 191 482 8720

Apple MacBook (unibody 2008) Mini Review

I had the pleasure, or should I say experience, of using a new MacBook 2.4GHz for a couple of days. This was the new late-2008 version with the unibody, one piece aluminium chassis. With it's sleek new lines, it certainly felt like a grown up MacBook Pro, but in a slightly smaller form with dressed-down graphics performance and screen resolution.

The first thing of note is just how tight and solidly made this new version feels. All of the top seams have gone, with the casing made from one piece of metal. This has the effect of making the MacBook feel really rigid. There are no case-fit problems to deal with. What you must take into account though, is that there has to be some openings and seams somewhere, so that Apple can get all the technological wonders into the case. So, the bottom is where you will find the joins. Just over half the bottom casing is held on with screws, under which you gain access to the main computer gubbins and the memory. The other part of the bottom is held on with a clever catch mechanism, under which you find the battery and hard drive. This makes for easy upgrading and servicing. Don't be fooled though, all the hype about this 'unibody' construction, just means Apple have turned things upside down, so all the seams (or joins) are underneath. What this does acheive though, is the most solid and pro-feeling MacBook to date.

The top section houses a lovely black keyboard and on this particular model it is backlit. The key travel and spacing is superb and it is lovely to type on. The trackpad is very big, with no physical button this time. Instead, the whole trackpad is hinged and clicks from about half way down the device. You can assign the bottom right hand corner of it to a right click (in system preferences) if you wish. It also support multi-touch gestures, for using two, three of four fings in different ways. In my opinion, this was a nice idea, but over-engineered. It would have been nicer to keep things simple, at least they work properly. This trackpad does work, but I found that I was getting the wrong clicks a lot of the time.

The screen is nice and bright. LED backlit with a 1280 x 800 resolution. Yes, it is glossy and you do get reflections. Angling the laptop gets around most of these problems and/or adjusting the brightness... so it ends up to be a little annoying, but easy to rectify. The built-in iSight camera (as on previous models) is superb and adds to the usefulness of this wonderful machine.

In use the 2.4GHz model really flies. It feels a lot snappier than my similarly specced MacBook Pro. The NVidia 9400M graphics certainly make it very useful for all the applications I tested. These included iMove, Final Cut Express, PhotoShop and Quark Xpress, all of which showed no real struggle. The most lasting impression that I was left with, was a cool a lap. Yes, this MacBook ran for two or three hours and was only just very very slightly warm on the underside. The top area around the keyboard was still cool. This is a great acheivement and finally these little babies can be called 'laptops' again.

Product: Apple MacBook (late 2008) 2.4GHz
Price: £1,149.00
Supplied by: Apple Inc.
Contact: 0800 039 1010

Nokia N95 8GB Mobile Phone Review

In a world that is filling with touch screen mobile phones very quickly, I take a look at a well established fully featured handset in the shape of Nokia's N95. It might not have a touch screen, but it is packed full of goodies. Check out the video review below.

Product: Nokia N95 8GB
Price: Varies depending on contract (£339.99 sim free)
Supplied by: Nokia UK
Contact: 0800 331 6021

Creative Zen X-Fi Leather Case Review

Having used the Creative Zen X-Fi (16GB) for almost a month now, I wanted to let you know about the leather case that is available for the unit. The video review of the Zen X-Fi MP3 player is in production right now, so should be on the website in the next couple of weeks.

I want to kick this review off on a very positive note, that this case is a lot better than the silicone case that is also for sale. It is slightly more expensive at £14.99 but is made from a nice quality black leather. It just feels so much more worthy of the price tag.

Open the case up and simply slot your en X-Fi in via the opening on the left side. There are cut-outs in the case so that the main controls remain accessible. Of note, the SD card slot has no cut-out, so to access this you have to remove the X-Fi from the case. This is not much of a problem, as in my opinion the SD card does not get changed all that often. The screen and all of the main control buttons are not covered when the case is open. Yet again, as with Creative's silicone case, no film type screen protector is provided.

The front flap is nice, no padding, but it is hardened with card inside. The inside of this flap has a nice soft finish, with a logo embedded into it it. The outside of the front has nine little circles on it, just a styling touch, they have no actual function. This flap snaps shut with a magnetic closure and provides nice protection to the X-Fi when it is not in use. This is a very nice case and will serve you very well to protect your little gem.

Product: Creative Zen X-Fi Leather Case
Price: £15.99 MSRP (£14.99 average)
Supplied by: Creative Europe
Contact: 0800 376 7954

Asus Eee PC 901 Video Review

If you want a laptop (or should I say mini sized netbook) that is even smaller than the recently announced MacBook, then check this Asus Eee PC 901 out. Although it is not anywhere near as powerful as Apple's offering, it does give you access to a very very small and useful machine. Ideal as a 'take anywhere' and 'chuck in your bag' affair. Check out the video review below.

Product: Asus Eee PC 901 (16GB SSD, Linux)
Price: £282 (Amazon)
Supplied by: Asus UK
Contact: 0870 120 8340

Video sponsored by Adagio Teas Europe

QuarkXpress 8 Graphic Elements Control

Rather than bring you one (ever so) long review of the new QuarkXpress 8, I thought it was a better idea to break it down. Over the next month or two keep checking back on the Geekanoids website, where you will find a series of videos showing (new and old) features of this superb page layout software. We kick off with a look at the new graphic elements control.

Product: Quark Xpress 8
Supplied by: Quark UK
Contact: + 44 (0)870 351 8670

Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator Headset Review

If you are really into your gaming, or perhaps you spend most of your day communicating with others on Skype. You really should take a look at a classy headset, something like this offering from Razer. Check out the video review below and see what you get for your money.

Product: Razer Piranha Gaming Communicator Headset
Price: £49.99 (average UK)
Supplied by: Razer USA Ltd
Contact: saleseu@razerzone.com