Gateway has released its latest range of entertainment notebooks that are known as the NV series, targeting power users who want the latest technologies in notebooks without breaking the bank. While summer’s just kicked in and nobody’s about to head off to school just yet, picking up the Gateway NV series notebook right now isn’t exactly a bad thing at all - after all, just how obsolete can a notebook get within a couple of months? Gateway touts that their new NV Series is more than ready to deliver multitasking performance which will handle popular everyday tasks with aplomb, offering a choice between Intel or AMD processors, depending on which side of the camp you’re on. In addition, prices start from netbook levels at just $499.99, helping those on a tight budget maximize their buck.Avid movie buffs will definitely find the Gateway NV to be an ideal machine for watching their favorite shows on the go thanks to a 15.6″ High Definition LED-backlit TFT Widescreen display which offers a true cinematic viewing experience, courtesy of a resolution at 1,366 x 768 and a 16:9 aspect ratio. In addition, you also get to enjoy the notebook’s Dolby Sound Room that offers spectacular surround sound from the two integrated stereo speakers. For folks who prefer to output their content to the living room monstrous TV, the inclusion of an HDMI port helps deliver crisp high-quality visuals and high-fidelity audio through a convenient, single cable connection.You will also benefit from Wi-Fi b/g Draft-N Certified connectivity that keeps you up to speed, especially on Draft-N networks. Not only that, each Gateway NV Series notebooks comes with a convenient MyBackup Button, helping you stash away all your important files at the touch of a button to another location for safekeeping, be it a USB flash drive (better make sure it is large enough), an external hard drive, or even to another hard drive partition. You can opt for a regular time to back-up data automatically or just press the button for an immediate back-up.

Sony’s back with a new DVD recorder in the form of the VRD-MC6 - the next generation multi-function DVDirect DVD recorder which is touted to transfer both high-definition and standard-definition home videos and digital photos to DVD discs without the need for a computer acting as a middleman. What makes the new VRD-MC6 model so special? While we’re going to look at it in further detail right after the jump, let me share with you an open secret - the device comes with a 2.7″ color LCD display that is handy for previewing video files, and you can also use it to check out up to half a dozen digital photos simultaneously. In addition, the wonders of modern technology and miniaturization has made it nearly 60% smaller compared to its predecessor. According to Shige Nakayama, manager of the DVDirect business at Sony, “Many customers still have their old home movies on tapes and are looking for an easy solution to archive their personal digital imaging content on DVD discs. With the larger built-in LCD color screen in a smaller body, the new DVDirect model makes it easier for customers to transfer the content to DVD discs for archiving, enjoying and sharing with family and friends.” The VRD-MC6 is able to transfer AVCHD quality videos to DVD discs in their native 1080i HD resolution when hooked directly to a Sony hard drive or Memory Stick media-based Handycam camcorder - surely you didn’t expect anything less than that from Sony! AVCHD quality DVDs can also be played back on compatible Blu-ray Disc devices, and these will include other players, computer optical drives and PS3 consoles. Other features include the ability to transfer standard-definition home videos to DVD discs, Digital Video (i.LINK/FireWire/IEEE-1394) connectivity, Composite Video inputs, and USB support. DVDs recorded this way can be played in most consumer DVD players without any problem. Alternatively, you can use the VRD-MC6 to record digital photos to a DVD as a slideshow directly , as it supports Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, Memory Stick Duo and Memory Stick Pro Duo media, SD/SDHC and xD-picture card media formats. Expect to pick up the DVDirect VRD-MC6 for approximately $229 this September.

When Canon isn’t making a virtual reality dinosaur exhibit, they have other things to do, like making printers. In fact, they have made three new printers. The PIXMA MP560 has duplex printing, photo correction, and Wi-Fi. There is also a USB port for printing directly from external storage. For example, it can do 4 by 6 inch prints in grayscale at a rate of 9.2 images a minute and 6 images per minute in color. The MP490 (pictured) has a 1.8-inch LCD screen and memory card slots. It is also good for printing photos, and has Auto Photo Fix II software built directly into it. It can deliver 4800 x 1200 maximum color dpi, as well as very fine monochromatic prints as well. The last is the SELPHY CP790 Compact Photo Printer that can hold the paper and ink cassettes, as well as the AC adapter, cable, and optional battery pack. It is made for printing photos on the go, and has built-in creative options like frames, calendars, and other things for that personal touch. It comes with a 3-inch LCD screen to maximize on photo viewing. All three models of these Canon printers should be available later this month. The MP560 will run about $150, the MP490 is about $100, and the CP790 runs about $180.

Portable hard drives are dime a dozen, and there are already many players available in the market currently. Samsung aims to be at the forefront with their most recent release, the Spinpoint N3U which will incorporate a native USB controller on its printed circuit board. This optimized design will ultimately result in a much smaller foot print, alongside a greener solution with less power consumption and optimized performance that makes it suitable as a portable external storage device. In fact, the 1.8″ Spinpoint N3U is able to hold up to 250GB worth of data, storing up to 125 Gigabytes per platter. While the majority of other external hard drives will require the addition of a bridge circuit board to convert the hard drive’s PATA interface into a USB interface, Samsung’s latest N3U drive with its native USB interface will do away with the need for such a bridge board. According to Choel-Hee Lee, vice president of marketing Storage System Division, Samsung Electronics, “The new high-capacity 1.8” 250GB drive enhances Samsung’s product offerings and is ideal for consumers who require a small form factor, high capacity data storage. It is easy to carry around and it is designed to withstand a free fall drop of up to 50 centimeters and be resistant to a maximum shock incident of up to 1500G.” 50cm might not sound like much, but then again it is better than nothing. Then again, do always remember to make a backup of your data in any hard drive just in case any untoward incident happens. Using a native USB interface device, the Spinpoint N3U eliminates possible points of failure due to loose cable connections while optimizing performance by eliminating the interrupt service time for the bridge board to convert PATA to USB signals. In addition, the N3U 1.8” drive is eco-friendly as it sips a mere 60% of power compared to a 2.5” hard drive of an equivalent capacity. The Spinpoint N3U will be available in 120GB, 160GB, 200GB and 250GB capacities, with shipping commencing from mid-July onwards with the 250GB model going for $199.