All in one PC - View Sonic VPC100 review

This exquisitely designed All-in-One PC is one of the thinnest desktops available at just 35mm offering an attractive space saving profile In a 19" (18.5" viewable) LCD Display with 16:9 aspect ratio. The PC comes loaded with a 1,366 x 768 resolution that allows users to watch HD movies, browse internet, play games or view documents with crisp details. Powered by Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor and coupled with 1GB memory, the All-ln-One PC provides plenty of power for day to day desktop computing and entertainment requirements.

The All- In-One PC from View Sonic also sports advanced multimedia capabilities with a built in DVD/RW burner and 2x3-watt speakers. That's not all, View Sonic VPC100 is well-equipped with four high¬ speed USB 2.0 ports offering versatile connectivity, while the 4-ln-l card reader allows users to transfer and share photos, files (music & movies) with ease. Also the green energy-saving design makes VPC100 quieter than a notebook and offers the smallest heat dissipation among desktops.

Review of AH-NC732 the noise cancelling headphone from Denon

Denon, as we all know, is not only famed for their highly I regarded products " but also for their highly priced products. However, most of the times their heavy price tag is defensible by the overall show and quality these products offer.

First look
If there is someone who knows how to amaze their customers from the look, then it must be Denon. The 732s come in a precisely sealed enclosure that will take quite a while to disentangle. And when you finally manage to do so, you will find two unblemished ear cups molded In delicate silver finishing joined together by a soft, yet strong black band. They are accompanied by two TRS cables with different sized connectors like..for the normal MP3 players and laptop jacks and 3.5mm for the ones on mobile phones. It also comes with a very usable and strong carrying case.


Tecchnical aspects
Denon claims that the AH-NC732 cancels outside noise by 99%. This is referred to as 'active' cancellation because it has microphones in each ear cup and the circuitry processes the ambient noise while out of phase, thereby cancelling the unwanted sounds. And all of this works on a single AAA battery. As it turns out, the 732s can be used with or without the cancellation active. Now that's exactly what sets the 732s apart from almost all the noise cancelling sets available in the market today. It gives you the flexibility of using the noise cancelling feature only when required, ultimately saving on a lot of battery power. This really makes sense because why would anyone use the noise cancelling feature when there is no ambient noise at all.

For sound, Denon incorporates a proprietary design, the Acoustic Optirniser technology, which you may find on many of their headphones. The feature essentially ports on the outer ear cup and equalizes internal pressure producing better bass, cleaner fidelity and tone, hopefully. The attachment cord is detachable (again best for storage), while an extension cord is provided which is compatible with IPhone / ITouch even without an additional adapter. Each ear-cup is loaded with a 40mm driver with Neodymium magnets that is expected to deliver between 5-28,000 Hz.

Listening experience
Out of all the headphone designs we have known till date, the on-ear design Is considered to be the most uncomfortable ones. But the AH -NC732s are lightweight plus the ear cushion made of 'low-repulsion' urethane is packed in soft leather that makes them really comfortable. When you try, what these ear-cups do when it comes to cancelling the ambient noise. Activating the noise-cancelling feature without music seemed to cut off significant bass frequencies, while it tried to raise the sound pressure in your ears, but successfully blocking ambient noise. This was a fair deal, but the instant you put on some music, the headphones will take on a completely different character. The 732s will display great dynamics and clarity with extended highs with the voices forward to the core. The 'noise cancellation active' setting seemed to be augmenting the mid-range extending better clarity to certain instruments like acoustic guitars and vocals. Like in the evergreen "Hotel California", the four guitars could be heard distinctively with each guitar retaining its Inherent character. Also, the vocals were crisp and clear. Even when you will switch off the noise cancelling feature, the 732s will come across as warm and laid back. But if you like your headphones to be heavy on the bass front, you may find the 732s don't pack in the punch that you would want them to.

It is disappointing that the TRS cables provided along are too short in length makes it very inconvenient to use at times.

Bottom line
If you consider the parameters like comfort, quality and performance, in that order, the AH-NC732s certainly has Its own share of strong points (comfortable fitting, excellent noise cancellation, strong mid-range, great highs) and a few drawbacks (thinner bass, short cable). All you have to do is evaluate the mentioned points against the price-tag and you have the answer for yourself

BMW Z4 35i – Review of a great convertible

You sit in your new BMW Z4, roof down, sun shining and a winding road ahead - there are few better times to enjoy a car like this. You put your foot down on the straight bits, feel the 302 horses under the bonnet get you up to speed indecently fast and revel in the rorty exhaust note bouncing off the mountain walls.

There may not be many cars in India where you can live out such fantasies but now that the Z4 is here at least your options have opened up, provided you have the Rs 61.98 lakh it takes to get one. And, any worries about the practicality of owning a convertible in India can be laid to rest — it's got an electrically-operated metal roof that folds away into the boot at the touch of a button.


Given its compact size, the Z4 is a lot more comfortable than it looks. Even with the roof up, there's good space (legroom, headroom, shoulder) and with the electric seat adjust, it's easy to get comfortable behind the wheel.

There's a great low-slung driving position, there's that lovely, thick-rimmed steering wheel in front of you, the classic long bonnet ahead of you and a short, stubby boot behind you. With the roof up, there's a decent 310 liters of space, but fold the roof into the boot and there's just an A-star-rivaling 180 liters.

With its twin-turbo straight-six engine, rear-wheel-drive platform and two seats, the Z4 35i is anything but ordinary. The 3.0-litre engine has a wide torque band, so pulls strong and clean right from 1300rpm. It loves to rev and because power delivery is so linear, it sometimes hides the fact that the car is seriously quick. Mind you, there's enough shove to get to lOOkph in 6.2sec and on to 200kph in 23sec before the speed limiter cuts in at 250kph.
This car had the adaptive suspension, and even in the 'Normal' setting, there's loads of grip, little body lean and, the steering is sharp, if a bit short of feel. The ride is stiff at low speeds, and sharp bumps sound painful. It hates any form of broken tarmac but still, for the handling on offer, it's not all that bad. It will even surprise you by clearing some really big speed breakers without grounding out

In the end, it is a very capable car. Its ability to swap between open-top sportster and snug coupe is brilliant. Performance is strong, the handling is convincing enough and though the ride can get uncomfortable, it's not as bad as you expect it to be. As an all-round enthusiast's car, there's little to challenge it, and there lies the Z4's brilliance.

Manza - New Saloon from TATA Review

Specs and price tag:
Engine size 1.3 D Price from Rs 5.84 lakh Power 89bhp 0-100kph 14.54sec Top speed 168kph Economy 11.6/17.1kpl (city/highway) 20-80kph in 3rd 13.73sec

Tata Motors is going with the all-new Indigo Manza. With the new car's generous dimensions, cavernous cabin, much- improved interiors and the Fiat 1.3 Multijet diesel engine, Tata is all set to steal some thunder away from Maruti’s Swift Dzire which has a three-month-long waiting period even a year after launch.

The new Indigo, oddly named the Manza, is a complete departure from its cheap but roomy predecessor that had a strong seven-year run. The new car is designed, engineered and equipped to have a greater appeal for those who want to upgrade to a very spacious and comfortable saloon that's loaded with features.

Driving Experience:
The Manza gets the same diesel engine as in the Fiat Linea diesel. The 1.3 Multijet develops more power on the Manza, thanks to the use of a vario-geometric turbocharger (VGT) and manages 89bhp. This is 14bhp more than its main rival, the Swift Dzire diesel which makes only 75bhp.

The engine impresses with its high refinement levels and rear-seated passengers will be hard pressed to tell if a diesel motor is powering the car. However, the engine is sluggish below 2000rpm, making driving in bumper-to-bumper city traffic a big chore. Once past this mark, the engine changes its personality and responds very well to throttle inputs, delivering a surge of power typical of common-rail motors. Power comes in rapidly till 40O0rpm. Keeping the engine in this range ensures that you will enjoy the drive. But you will have to judiciously use the five-speed gearbox to stay 'in the zone'. The gearbox, a Fiat unit, is direct and pretty accurate but you will need a strong hand when changing gears - it's not the lightest one around. When driving in the city, you're best advised to select a gear lower than you would usually.

Tata Motors has worked hard on the Manza's suspension, making ride comfort a priority. It's the same set-up as the one found on the Indica Vista with modified settings. Drive over a patched-up road and you'll immediately appreciate the fact that very little filters into the cabin. Even sharp crevices are annihilated with considerable aplomb and do not pose any problem for the Manza. But all this means that the car's high¬ speed manners are slightly compromised. The Manza tends to pitch quite a bit at faster speeds and doesn't feel as confidence- inspiring as some rivals.

One area where the Maruti Dzire and the Ford Fiesta diesel have the edge over the new Indigo is driver involvement. The Manza does not like to be pushed hard into corners and there is plenty of body roll. We would also like the steering wheel to communicate better. But Tata Motors never intended the Manza to be a driver-focused car and these aren't things that should worry you. For everyday motoring, the Manza is good to drive.
In terms of fuel economy, the Manza returned 11.6kpl in the city, compared to the Dzire's 13.5kpl. On the highway, a 17.5 kpl is a decent average against Dzire’s 18.9 kpl.


The interior
With buyers spending more and more time inside their cars, Tata Motors has played on the older Indigo's key strengths, namely interior space and comfort. If you thought the old Indigo was roomy, then you have to experience the new Manza's cabin which is even more spacious than before. The boot too is large and the low sill makes loading a very easy job. Tata Motors has taken the

Indigo up market with the selection of new seat fabric, which offers a sense of luxury. Occupants will enjoy the well-contoured seats and the massive legroom in both rows as well. Rear seat comfort is easily the best in class, and the generous width means that sitting three abreast is a cinch — a rarity even in some more expensive cars. The Swift Dzire doesn't even stand a chance in the rear seat department. If you're stuck in a traffic jam, you'd want to be inside the Manza.
The dashboard is styled very well too. All dials are clear and easy to read and the rev gauge lights up in red when you hit the rev limiter - a gimmicky touch.

Features you will get:
Tata Motors wants to ensure that the Indigo isn't perceived as a cheap and roomy car anymore. One way of going about this is providing a huge features list.
You get airbags, climate control, steering-mounted stereo controls and even Bluetooth connectivity for the cell phone.

The areas you may not like about Manza:
The quality of the cabin plastics, though vastly improved, still gives you a feeling of being shortchanged and is the only disappointment in an otherwise fine interior. The plastics lack consistency and the general fit and finish is also below class rivals. But the space and long equipment list should manage to overcome this shortcoming.

Bottom Line:
Overall, the Manza's shortcomings fall into areas that won't matter much to midsize car buyers and the car manages to outclass rivals where it matters most. It's roomier, more comfortable and comes with a modern diesel engine that has proven reliability on other cars. With prices starting from Rs 5.84 lakh (ex-showroom, Mumbai), the Indigo Manza is much better value than any other car in its class. And that's enough reason to consider it.