Microsoft Arc Mouse Specs:

• 2.4 GHz Connectivity
• 30 ft. Wireless Range
• Snap-in Transceiver
• Scroll Wheel & Back Button
• Battery Indicator

Design and Build ★★★★✩
The “arc” design, hands down, makes this device stand out against competition. The rear portion of the mouse folds into itself becoming only 60% of the original size, which is great for travel. Fortunately, when expanded, it’s large enough to rest your entire hand. The USB transceiver stows away under the mouse and is held in place magnetically. When folded, the mouse automatically shuts off to save power and fits into the included travel sleeve. The transceiver is unfortunately quite larger than the one found on Microsoft’s Mobile Mouse 4000. I wouldn’t suggest leave it plugged in when transporting as it will likely snap or damage a laptop’s USB port. As for the mouse, despite appearing a bit flimsy, it’s actually quite sturdy with little to no flex even when exerting pressure. The Arc Mouse is light enough for travel, but weighs enough to overcome possibly appearing cheap. In terms of hardware, there’s not much except for the standard left and right-click, a scroll wheel, and a ‘back’ key. Asides from that, the mouse is available in Red, Purple, While, Blue, Green, and Black. Some colors are also available in glossy editions, however I wouldn’t recommend those as they’ll likely be fingerprint magnets.

Comfort and Accuracy ★★★★✩
The curvature offers the comfort of desktop mice while the symmetrical design will allow for ambidextrous use. While the scroll wheel and left/right-click have a comfortable feel, the ‘back’ key on the front left side isn’t within reach of the expected position of your thumb. I found myself awkwardly reaching forward to press the key. The flawed positioning will be further irritating for left-handed users as they’ll have to use a pinky to reach it. Unfortunately, the Arc Mouse also lacks an additional ‘forward’ button which is even more disappointing. Despite that, the mouse still offers a great grip with a rubberized matte finish and slides smoothly over most surfaces with durable Teflon pads. The Bluetrack sensor is a step up from most laser mice as it can track on a variety of surfaces including glossy magazines. It’s still a step behind the Darkfield technology found in Logitech’s MX Anywhere that even works on glass. For the most part, the sensor is precise and responsive enough for most tasks even over a wireless 2.4 GHz connection and should meet the need demands of most consumers.

Features and Customizing ★★★✩✩
The functionality of the Arc Mouse and Mobile Mouse 4000 are nearly identical. As both have left and right-click, a scroll wheel, and a side button, the only difference is the shape. After plugging in the transceiver, Windows 7 automatically fetches the latest IntelliPoint software from the internet. All the keys work right out of the box and installing the program isn’t required, however the software allows for further customization. The program’s user interface is quite friendly and let’s you visually pick different actions per component. For example, the scroll wheel can initiate the 3D flip for Windows Vista and 7. While on the topic of the scroll wheel, I should mention that it’s a “notched” type. There’s no free scroll or flick mode available. It works fine, but including that mode and maybe even a ‘forward key’ would have gone a long way to improve functionality especially since IntelliPoint offers plenty of custom settings. I was also glad to see a simple power indicator on top which changes colors as it gets closer to running out of power. With power conserving standby feature, Microsoft claims a six month lifespan on two AAA batteries. While I can’t testify to that claim, it’s been running at full power for the past two weeks.

Conclusion
When it comes down to it, Microsoft’s Arc Mouse offers a lot for its price tag. But, is it enough? Unfortunately, I definitely feel it looses value since it lacks a ‘forward’ key and since the positioning of the ‘back’ key renders that function useless. On the bright side, it offers the comfort and feel of a larger desktop mouse and even folds away for transport. Microsoft’s Bluetrack technology is likely the second best on the market and will work on most surfaces. If you are looking for a companion for your netbook or laptop when you travel, this will get the job done. It’s available for around $40 while some colors are even cheaper if you shop around. And if you didn’t browse through the images, it’s actually one of the better-looking mouse out there. While it does lack on some features, the Microsoft Arc Mouse won’t disappoint.

The Good

• Portable Build
• Sleek Appearance
• Strong Connectivity

The Bad

• Awkward Side Button
• Bulky Transceiver
• Lacking Extra Button

Buy: Microsoft Arc Mouse $40-25
Links: Check out Microsoft’s Arc Mouse

Wireless Comfort Keyboard 5000
Main Features – 4/5 stars
Unlike most keyboards, Microsoft’s keyboard has plenty of extra functionality that you wouldn’t normally see. The entire top row is dedicated to some special features: there’s a key to launch the default web browser, email client, and media player. There are also media controls to play, pause, and navigate tracks. The volume controls offer muting and adjusting volume. A Documents and Pictures folder launcher and Zoom -/+ controls are thrown in too. The Keyboard also sports 5 keys that launch the first 5 respective items in the Windows 7 taskbar. An additional favorite key can be customized to launch any application. These keys are large and easy to press, but are slightly unresponsive at times. Plus, due to the soft-click, it’s hard to tell if you’ve pressed them hard enough. I also had a major issue with the layout of the Function Keys row. As someone who is a heavy multi-tasker, these are always important for refreshing webpages, running spell check, starting full screen mode, and plenty of other actions. Microsoft made the regrettable decision to make these keys smaller than the standard keys found on the keyboard. They are tiny nudges that are difficult to reach since they are recessed. Even the Escape Key (Esc) fell into the same mess. On the bright side, they offer a quick toggle that can turn the Function keys into special commands including undo, redo, save, open, and other tasks.

I was also glad to see the inclusion of hot-key labels such as WIN+D for showing the desktop and WIN+L for locking the desktop. Other than that, there’s a fairly standard numeric keypad on the side along with a button to launch the Calculator application above it. Overall, there are plenty of features that you probably didn’t have on your old keyboard. These will take a bit of time to get accustomed too, but will eventually make you more productive. The biggest quirk was the size of the Function Keys row which will hopefully get resolved in a future iteration.

Design & Comfort – 4/5 stars
My initial impression from removing it from the packaging was how good it looked. It’s sleek, well designed, and looks professional. The edges and specialty keys are all glossy. They looks great when they first come out of the box, but soon begin to attract fingerprints, grease, and dust. The main keys are comfortable to type with: they are quiet and have a soft click. Everything’s within reach and feels great to use. Unlike regular keyboards that have flat horizontal keys, Microsoft has taken a ergonomic approach. This keyboard is curved 6 degrees and has stretched keys. It even has a slight inward depth to cater to the curvature of your hands. The large palm rest offers an excellent grip as well. There are extra wedges included that attach to the rear of the keyboard for elevation. The entire unit has a sturdy feel and stays in place. The size of the Function Keys once again add a drawback to comfort. They are too small and difficult to use. Asides from that, this keyboard simply looks great and is comfortable.

Wireless Mouse 5000
Main Features – 4/5 stars
This 5-button mouse has all the goods. It sports a standard left/right click, back/forward buttons, and a four-way scroll wheel which doubles as a middle click. Once plugged in, all the keys work right out of the box. No extra configuration was required. The scroll isn’t notched nor entirely a free scroll. It has a constant slow friction. It’s a bit of a messy design since it doesn’t work too well for either precision scrolling or for fast movements. When middle-clicking, you end up accidentally scrolling up or down and missing the target. The side-scroll was the only part of the entire scroll wheel I liked. The new BlueTrack technology on the other hand is quite accurate, precise, and responsive. It works on most surfaces unlike the average mouse, but still isn’t as great as the Logitech VX Anywhere which uses the Darkfield technology to work even on glass. I was also glad to see an ambidextrous design which most mice these days don’t exactly offer. But I was once again disappointed to find that the USB receiver didn’t attach into the device flush. It rather sticks out making it bulky, especially since it won’t sit stable on a flat surface. Other than that, this has all the essential features needed to make a great mouse.

Design & Comfort – 3/5 stars
While the features might be there, there are other issues this mouse faces. While the unit looks quite modern and stylish, it’s glossy. This a horrible idea for a mouse. The entire unit begins to look rather disgusting as it gets covered with fingerprints and dust. The dirt makes the surface of the mouse feel textured and it feels like it always needs constantly needs cleaning. Fortunately, the most important buttons, left and right click, feel great to use. They are responsive and offer a great tactile feedback. As mentioned before, the middle click is quite difficult to use due to causing accidental scrolling. The back and forward key are located on the left and right of the mouse. While they are in a good location, the keys are too narrow. Plus, they are a bit too soft and don’t offer nearly enough of a physical click. Since they are sensitive, accidental bump can result in jumping back a page, which isn’t a good thing if you’re filling out a form or writing a comment on a web page. Despite that, the mouse is better than average mice, but there are many improvements that can be made.

Conclusion
Getting Keyboards and Mice to work in the past required installing drivers from CDs and getting the machine to detect the hardware, which was a hassle. This is no longer the case with the Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000. After simply inserting the receiver into my Windows 7 machine, everything was automatically detected within a few seconds and ready to go. Extra Microsoft Intellipoint software got downloaded from Windows Updated and I was prompted to install it. Simple as that. Both the Mouse and Keyboard run of two AA batteries each and were included. While I wasn’t able to test the battery life, it should last at least a few months. The device worked from up to 30 feet away, which is great if for home theater setups. While I was a bit rough on this product, I’ve got to say that there wasn’t anything per say that didn’t work. Most of it was comfort issues with sizes of keys and material used in the design. Considering that this entire package is available for $67, it’s actually a fairly good deal. While I feel that Logitech’s competing products might offer more features, they also cost nearly twice as much. For the average person looking for a wireless mouse and keyboard combo, you can’t go wrong with this. The Microsoft Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000 offers a great keyboard and mouse experience.

Buy: $67 – Wireless Comfort Desktop 5000
Links: Microsoft.com/Hardware

Best Overall Game: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the sequel to the popular game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. MW2 is one of the most talked about games of the year. Having sold over 4.7 million copies on opening day and over 9 million copies in the first 5 days, it’s broken all sales records for video games.

Buy: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Second Choice: Assassin’s Creed II

Assassin’s Creed II is the sequel to the popular 2007 game Assassin’s Creed. It picks up merely seconds after the first game ends. You play as an incarnate of an assassin named Ezio who was betrayed by a rival ruling family during the Renaissance era in Italy. It will not disappoint.

Buy: Assassin’s Creed II

Third Choice: Batman: Arkham Asylum

Batman has been gaining popularity since the Batman Begins movie in 2005 followed by The Dark Knight which broke all sorts of records after reaching theaters. In Batman: Arkham Asylum, you continue the story after the movie The Dark Knight. You assume the role of Batman as he brings The Joker to Arkham Asylum. While in Arkham Asylum, the super-villians set a trap for Batman.

Buy: Batman: Arkham Asylum

This Gift Guide is a part of our ongoing Skatter Tech Holiday Gift Guide.

• Snap Right: WIN Key + Right
• Snap Left: WIN Key + Left

Fortunately after digging through the “internets,” I found a solution workaround. To move an active window to the left or right half of the center divider, just hit the WIN Key + Right or WIN Key + Left. Repeatedly pressing through either combo continually moves the window to all the possible snap positions. You can also add the SHIFT key as another modifier to have it jump to the same position on the next display. I’m definitely not a fan of having to do this and would have definitely preferred a visual method, but it’s the best option at the moment. It’s a lot better than manually resizing windows…

Microsoft, if you’re listening, please make a small tweak or two for Service Pack 1.

Precision and Responsiveness
Microsoft’s new Mobile Mouse 4000 works on both PCs & Macs using the USB 2.4 GHz wireless receiver. It features Microsoft’s new and advanced BlueTrack Technology, which is the biggest selling point for the device.  The BlueTrack Tracking Engine diverges from the typical wireless laser mouse. It uses an advance incoherent Blue LED.  With a wider beam and high angle optics, it can track on even granite, marble, and glossy surfaces. So I put it to the test. And it worked on my black mouse pad, a somewhat glossy desk, the carpet, and even the textured wall. It worked just as advertised. The next time you are at a coffee shop and decide to use a shiny magazine as your mouse pad, you can be assured that this mouse won’t fail. This is a great improvement from the last generation of mice, but competitors are already another step ahead. For example, competing products from Logitech sport a new technology called Darkfield that work even on glass. Although the Mobile Mouse 4000 can not match that feature, it is also a much more affordable device and won’t disappoint.

Battery and Connectivity
Microsoft’s other enhancements that truly make the Wireless Mobile Mouse an excellent product include the Nano Transceiver and the Battery Life. The Nano Transceiver on its own is an amazing advancement for wireless mice. It isn’t new, but is a welcome inclusion. Unlike other USB receivers, this one barely extends out of the USB port. There are less chances of snapping  the receiver or damaging your USB port. In addition the entire transceiver fits into a small compartment under the mouse. It is released with a quick push of a button besides the slot. Microsoft’s Mouse runs on a single AA battery. A small indicator light on top will change from Green to Yellow when it’s running out of juice. You won’t have to worry about it dying unexpectedly. There’s also a power on-off switch underneath to help maintain battery life. Microsoft claims a 10 month battery life and I think that’s a reasonable lifespan. It doesn’t add to much bulk to your bag when you are on the go and it will last a long time.

Shape and Design
The device has plenty of benefits overall, but does have a few drawbacks. First, it’s a relatively small mouse with a symmetrical shape. This is great for ambidextrous users, but a bit too small for the average person. I probably wouldn’t use this as my main mouse, but there’s no question it’s great for travel. It would also suit children and teens just fine. The layout is fairly typical, with a left/right click, a scroll wheel in between, and an extra button on the upper left side. That extra button functions by default as a back button. It’s a great idea and worked just fine for me, a right-handed user, but would definitely be in an awkward place for lefties. I also was slightly disappointed with the scroll wheel.  It isn’t notched too well and constantly slips causing my documents to scroll slightly. Plus if you were to attempt to press it inwards to initiate a middle-click or free-scroll, it once again often slips. Overall it’s not the best mouse for full-time use unless you’ve got small hands, but does the job for traveling.

Customization
The IntelliPoint software software included with the mouse enables a whole new set of features. It’s easy to customize and will be appreciated. Any button on the mouse including the scroll wheel can all have their functionality tweaked. With the default settings, the scroll wheel will activate Vista’s 3D Flip function and the side button will be the Back button for your Web Browser. What makes the software powerful is the program specific customizations. It will allow the mouse to be configured differently based of what program you have active at the time. For example the pressing in the scroll button can be the middle-click when using Firefox, but at other times launch the 3D Flip. These types of settings help increase productivity greatly. The one thing this mouse does lack is a Forward button to complement the Back button. It would have made a lot of sense to put it at a symmetrical position on the other side. Once again, competing products feature both a Back and Forward button.

In Conclusion
Microsoft’s Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 is an excellent compact mouse with the basic and essential features. The new BlueTrack technology allows flexibility to use the mouse on a larger variety of surfaces. It’s precise, has a sleek design, and an ultra compact transceiver. The IntelliPoint software offers plenty of neat custom settings. The addition of a Forward button on the right side and a better notched scroll wheel would have been truly appreciated, however it still works. It’s available in Black, White, Ocean Teal Blue, Lime Green, and Berry Pink for a reasonable price of just $39.99. If you are looking for a new mouse to pack with you when you are on the go or for youngsters, look no further, Microsoft’s product is an excellent choice.

Pros

• BlueTrack Technology
• Nano USB Transceiver
• IntelliPoint Custom Settings
• 10-Month Battery Life

Cons

• Too Small for Average Person
• Side Button isn’t Left Hand Friendly
• Oversensitive Scroll Wheel
• Lack of Forward Button

Buy: Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 4000 for $39
Links: Microsoft.com Mobile Mouse 4000

In the past I highly recommended AVG Free to just about anyone who was looking for an alternative to the $40-50 per year you would need to pay for either a McAfee or Symantec product. AVG is still a great product, however Microsoft Security Essentials is just a lot more convenient. The installer file size varies between a 5-10MB download based on which version of Windows you are running. The installation process is simple and quick. The user interface makes sense without any confusing technical terms. The program receives updated virus definitions automatically through the built in Windows Update tool to simplify things even further. Windows XP, Vista, and 7 all have a built-in Firewall, the addition of this component completes the entire security package. If you don’t have any anti-virus or anti-spyware protection software running on your computer, there’s no excuse to not try Microsoft’s free solution.

Download: Microsoft Security Essentials

2009 is the year for the launch of two new next generation operating systems: Apple’s OS X Snow Leopard and Microsoft’s Windows 7. Just as with every prior version of both those operating systems, they come with a set new stunning backgrounds. If you aren’t willing to spend the cash to upgrade or can’t afford to do so in these difficult times, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be able to enjoy these new wallpapers. So as a treat, our readers can download the entire set of backdrops included with both Windows 7 and Snow Leopard in full high resolution glory!

The download includes 31 Windows 7 Backgrounds plus two bonus ones we’ve thrown in all at a 1920×1200 resolution. And it also includes 35 Snow Leopard Backgrounds, all at a whopping 2560×1600 resolution. So what are you waiting for? Download a copy and let us know which set you like best!

Download:
next-gen-wallpapers.zip (~79.8 MB)
Note: Download only contains JPG images, we never distribute spyware/malware/adware.

Pre-Order: Snow Leopard | Windows 7

As many of you have already heard there was a torrent of game announcements that came out of E3 that just gets our hearts pumping. So, without any further adieu here are the games that I personally am most excited for on each the following consoles.

PlayStation 3:

• God of War III – Sony CEA
• Uncharted 2: Among Thieves – SCEA
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – Activision
• Heavy Rain – Sony Computer Entertainment
• Bioshock 2 – 2K Games
• MAG – Sony Computer Entertainment
• Assassin’s Creed II – Ubisoft

Xbox 360:

• Assassin’s Creed II – Ubisoft
• Halo 3: ODST – Microsoft
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – Activision
• Alan Wake – Microsoft
• Splinter Cell: Conviction – Ubisoft
• Mass Effect 2 – Electronic Arts
• Bioshock 2 – 2K Games
• Left 4 Dead 2 – Valve Software

Wii:

• New Super Mario Brothers – Nintendo
• Metroid: The Other M – Nintendo

DS: Scribblenauts – Nintendo

PC:

• Left 4 Dead 2 – Valve Software
• Star Wars: The Old Republic – Lucas Arts and Bioware
• Splinter Cell: Conviction – Ubisoft
• Alan Wake – Microsoft
• Bioshock 2 – 2K Games
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – Activision
• Mass Effect 2 – Electronic Arts
• Assassin’s Creed II – Ubisoft

Realtime Technologies
The folks over at RTT are using Nvidia graphics technologies to create real-time raytracing models of prototype cars. Jen-Hsun invited Peter Stevenson, COO of RTT, on stage to show us a live demo of a new prototype Lamborghini model. The car apparently costs over a million dollars and only 20 will become available worldwide. Changes to the virtual model can be made in real-time and is intricate enough to detail every single internal component of the vehicle, not just the exterior looks. The high quality details of the interior leather, stitching, and materials was quite impressive. Nike, for example, was able to save a couple million dollars using Nvidia to create virtual prototypes of shoes.

Nurien Software (MMO)
Next, Nvidia’s CEO introduced Taehoon Kim, co-founder of Nurien, who introduced a new Massive Multi-player Online game which is going to be released soon. It was pretty much Sims, but on steroids. (Lots of Steroids.) The game could render people in real time, simulate life-like movements, and looks damn good. Another neat feature that they mentioned was the ability to choose real videos to be playing on TV screens or uploaded photos on photo frames in virtual homes, so other players who enter your area will be able to see all of your personalized content since every component of the game is networked.

SportsVision
If you watch Football or paid any attention to the 2008 Olympics, you probably have noticed a lot of virtual graphics being added to the arena. For example in the swimming events, a line is overlaid on the screen to show the time that the contestants would need to beat to reach a world record. The graphics was added without harming the view of the athletes and this was done using GPUs to calculate fluid movement around objects. NASCAR is using Sportsvision technology to display the effects of drafting.

Photosynth
A new product Microsoft just launched a couple of days ago allows stitching multiple photos together in a virtual environment. It automatically creates reference points from objects in images and can put them together, the more photos the better. Joshua Edwards from Microsoft Live Labs previewed some samples of the Stonehenge in the U.K. and the National Archive building in D.C. in impressive detail. The best part is that anyone can create these high quality 360 virtual views of an area with just a digital camera.

Perceptive Pixel
Jeff Han stepped on stage to demonstrate the next generation user interfaces. Perceptive Pixel has taken UI graphics to the next level. He used a whopping 100-inch multi-touch display to demonstrate some stuff you can’t do with a mouse. Although he expects first practical applications to be for the military and high-end design, he expects simpler versions to reach consumers soon. And it already has with touch screen devices such as the Apple iPhone.

The Ending
I started making my way back to the expo hall, but Tricia Helfer, an actress, who’s on Battlestar Galactica and Burn Notice, was speaking about how virtual characters play a role in television. Nvidia plays a huge roll to make much of the graphics we see in Hollywood films actually be rendered and put on the big screen. It was Nvidia’s and the CEO’s first time hosting such a large event. It went pretty well and looks like it was success so far. I’ll be on the show floor covering some of the new stuff that’s being shown off. So keep checking back for more Nvision 08 content over the next two days!

Links: Nvision 2008 | Nvidia.com

Microsoft Office 2007 Ultimate

To be eligible for this deal, you must have university email address at a ‘.edu’ domain and must be enrolled in at least 0.5 units of course work. We highly recommend taking advantage of this deal since the next cheapest Microsoft Office bundle, the Student and Teacher Edition, costs over $80 and only includes four applications. And if $60 bucks is still too much, the next best alternative is Open Office which is an open source office suite available for download at no cost. In case you are wondering, Open Office is completely legal and is distributed by Sun Microsystems, however I still recommend Office Ultimate for $60.

Buy Now: TheUltimateSteal.com

It seems that July will be yet another slow summer month as developers are biding their time until the holiday season to release their triple A titles.

Nintendo Wii:

• Summer Athletics: The Ultimate Challenge – dpt entertainment AG
• Order Up! – Zoo Games
• NCAA Football 09 – Electronic Arts
• Rock Band Track Pack Volume 1 – MTV Games
• Wonder World Amusement Park – Majesco Entertainment
• Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon – Square Enix
• SPOGS Racing – D2C Games
• Freddi Fish Kelp Seed Mystery – Majesco Entertainment
• Purr Pals – Crave Entertainment

PlayStation 3:

• Beijing 2008 – The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games – Sega
• NCAA Football 09 – Electronic Arts
• Soulcalibur IV – Namco Bandai Games

Xbox 360:

• Golf: Tee It Up – Activision
• Schizoid – Microsoft
• NCAA Football 09 – Electronic Arts
• Soulcalibur IV – Namco Bandai Games
• Spectral Force 3 – Atlus

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free + no tax)

Nintendo Wii:

• Top Spin 3 – 2K Sports
• Rock Band – MTV Games
• Blast Works – Majesco Sales Inc.
• The Incredible Hulk – Sega

Play Station 3:

• Kung Fu Panda – Activision
• Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy – Sierra
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures – LucasArts
• Race Driver: GRID – CodeMasters Software
• The Incredible Hulk – Sega
• Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit – Atari
• NASCAR 09 – Electronic Arts

Xbox 360:

• Ninja Gaiden II – Microsoft
• Kung Fu Panda – Activision
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures – LucasArts
• Alone in the Dark – Atari
• Race Driver: GRID – CodeMasters Software
• Robert Ludlum’s The Bourne Conspiracy – Sierra
• The Incredible Hulk – Sega
• NASCAR 09 – Electronic Arts
• Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit – Atari
• Don King Presents Prizefighter – 2k Sports
• Command and Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath – Electronic Arts
• Hail to the Chimp – Gamecock Media Group
• Hellboy: The Science of Evil – Konami
• Operation Darkness – Atlus
• Guitar Hero: Aerosmith – Activision
• Command and Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath – Electronic Arts
• Hail to the Chimp – Gamecock Media Group
• Hellboy: The Science of Evil – Konami
• Operation Darkness – Atlus
• Guitar Hero: Aerosmith – Activision

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free + no tax)

Before picking a background to use, you’ll need to know the total resolution of your two displays. So for example if you have two 1280×800 displays and they are sitting besides each other, the total resolution would be 2560 x 800. You would then have to find an image of that resolution to make it fit correctly. If you’ve already got an image, skip to the setup procedure. If not, a great place to look for large backgrounds is InterfaceLift. This website offers tons of free high resolution wallpapers for just about every setup. Since we are looking for wallpapers for dual displays, head on over to the dual monitors section and select the resolution of your setup to filter the results. Browse through the gallery, pick some wallpapers you like, and save them to your computer.

Setup Dual Screen Walpaper:

1. Right-click on desktop & click Personalize
2. Open the Desktop Background settings
3. Browse to & select the background you want
4. Choose ‘Tile’ under positioning settings

If all goes well, your dual screen wallpaper should span across your first display onto the second!

Some problems you may encounter are if you have different sized resolutions on each of your displays. One solution for that would be to pick an image larger in height and width than the larger of your two displays. Doing so should ensure that the image stretches across your entire viewing area. There are also some applications which will allow further customizations, for example choosing different images for each display. This tutorial covers the simplest method to getting this done without any extra software. We welcome all tips and suggestions so please let us know if you have any other cools tweaks or tips. And as always if you have any problems please leave a comment and someone will assist you!

After last month’s launch of Grand Theft Auto IV for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, which seems to have received best score of all time for both consoles, these new games are probably going to go unnoticed. And Wii users are still probably rejoicing with Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart.

Nintendo Wii:

• Emergency Heroes – Ubisoft
• Wii Fit – Nintendo
• DECA Sports – Hudson Entertainment, Inc
• We Ski – NAMCO Bandai Games America, Inc
• Castle of Shikigame III – Aksys Games
• Blast Works – Majesco Sales, Inc
• Bloom Box – Electronic Arts
• Iron Man – Sega

Play Station 3:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – Disney Interactive Studios
• UEFA EURO 2008 – Electronic Arts
• SlingStar – SCEA
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars – Activision
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger – Southpeak
• Haze – Ubisoft

Xbox 360:

• Iron Man – Sega
• Wits & Wagers – Microsoft
• The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian – Disney Interactive Studios
• UEFA EURO 2008 – Electronic Arts
• Enemy Territory: Quake Wars – Activision
• Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition – Capcom

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free + no tax)

The Specifications:

• Connectivity: 2.4 GHz Wireless (USB Adapter)
• Power: One Rechargable AAA (with Dock)
• Sensor: High Definition 850nm Laser
• Other: 4-way scroll & back/forward buttons

The Buttons: – 3.5/5 stars
For a full-sized desktop mouse, I was partially disappointed to see how few buttons the mouse had. Other than the left/right click buttons the Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 only had a scroll wheel, which also functioned as a middle click, and a back/forward browser navigation buttons on the left side. The scroll wheel had no friction (no clicks) which made it slightly difficult to use with certain applications. It would have been nice if it had a switch to enable or disable the “notches” like some of the Logitech mice do. Clicking in the scroll wheel to perform a middle-click took some getting used to since I kept accidentally scrolling instead. And finally the back and forward buttons were placed high up making them hard to reach, however it wasn’t an issue after a day or two of use. I do wish they could have thrown at least a few more controls onto the mouse for faster navigation. And finally the two most important buttons, left and right click, were easy to reach, however were a bit too soft and were unusually squeaky.

Accuracy and Transmission – 5/5 stars
The mouse made up for its lack of buttons with its accuracy. The “High Definition Laser Technology” seems to be working since the movements were almost pinpoint accurate. Despite the mouse being wireless, as long as I was within 20 feet of the receiver (same room) I didn’t experience any hiccups. There are other wireless mouse that offer more sensitive lasers, however I found the Wireless Laser 7000 Mouse to be more than enough for any task I was performing on my machine which includes using Adobe Photoshop. Although I didn’t take off any points since this isn’t suppose to be a traveling mouse, I felt the transmitter could have been a bit smaller like those included with newer mice.

Battery and Charging – 5/5 stars
Microsoft’s mouse uses a single AAA NiMH 1000mAH battery to power itself. I didn’t try to use the mouse until the battery died, however I was able to go through at least 3 days without an issue. To recharge the mouse, just place it on the included AC powered dock. (Microsoft recommends charging it for 7 hours to reach a full charge.) The other neat fact might just be that, if you do happen to take this mouse with you and forget to bring the charger dock, you can just pop in a standard AAA battery temporarily.

Compatibility – 4/5 stars
The Wireless 7000 Mouse worked instantly when the USB adapter was plugged in without any additional software on Windows XP/Vista, Mac OS X Leopard, and Linux Ubuntu. If found that everything function just fine on all the operating systems, however the back and forward navigation buttons failed to do anything on Ubuntu and Leopard. If the included Microsoft IntelliPoint software is installed for Windows or OS X, the mouse’s buttons can be truly customized to do stuff like launching the 3D Flip or Exposé.

Overall Microsoft’s Wireless Laser Mouse 700 is a success and I felt comfortable using it within a day. The setup up process was easy as just plugging the adapter in for me, however Leopard users may have to install additional software. This mouse is bad news for left-handed consumers since it has been specifically shaped for the right hand. Finally other than the mouse’s build quality seeming a bit poor, everything else met my expectations. The mouse became available for purchase just last month and the MSRP is $69.99, however you should be able to find it for around $60 if you shop around.

Buy: Wireless Laser Mouse 7000 – $61 (amazon = no tax + ships free)
Links: Microsoft.com (Hardware) Wireless Laser Mouse 7000
Related: Logitech VX Nano Reviewed

It looks as though April will be another slow month in terms of the quantities of games being released. PlayStation 3 owners will rejoice since Gran Turismo 5 is finally hitting store shelves. In addition the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto IV will be hitting both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles.

Nintendo Wii:

• Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
• Okami – Capcom
• Baroque – Atlus

PlayStation 3:

• Gran Turismo 5 Prologue – SCEA
• NBA Ballers: Chosen One – Midway
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger – Southpeak
• Grand Theft Auto IV – Rockstar

Xbox 360:

• Ninja Gaiden II – Microsoft
• Grand Theft Auto IV – Rockstar
• NBA Ballers: Chosen One – Midway

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free + no tax)

When Microsoft Released Service Pack 1 for Vista to Windows Update on March 18th, I upgraded immediately. The process took a while to download since the servers were being hit hard by the large amount people trying to get a hold of the update file. After the download it took about one and a half hour to completely install. It required a few clicks of the “next” button to begin the installation. The computer will be unusable during the process. After it was complete, I was disappointed to find that it was now taking over 5 minutes to start up my machine. It normally took about 2 minutes. In addition there were absolutely no recognizable visual changes. After a few days of use, the performance of my machine drastically changed. Since the upgrade had deleted Vista’s pefetching, caching, and indexing databases, they had to be rebuilt. Today my machine starts up at least 30 seconds faster than it did before SP1. Shut Down, reboot, and suspend speeds have also improved greatly. Launching applications such as Phtotoshop CS3 has become much faster. The best part is that my system hasn’t crashed even once since upgrading. Previously I usually sat staring at blue screens at least a couple of times each week.

Beginning next month, Service Pack 1 will automatically be installed onto your system if you have Auto Updating enabled. However if you want to go ahead and get it now, just launch Windows Update from Vista’s Control Panel and click on check for updates. If it doesn’t appear make sure you have all the critical updates installed. Once you hit install it will close all your programs and then begin the process. The duration it will take to complete will vary depending on the performance of your machine. I was lucky not to run into any major issues whatsoever, however some have complained about major fatal errors. Despite those complains, the majority of those who have upgraded have done so successfully.

Links: Windows Vista Blog

This month will be an exciting time for Nintendo Wii owners since one of the most anticipated games, Super Smash Bros. Brawl is hitting stores on March 9th, 2008. Note that the game was already made available in Japan and this launch date applies only to North America. A date has not yet been set for Europe.

Nintendo Wii:

• Super Smash Bros. Brawl – Nintendo
• Summer Sports: Paradise Island – Destineer
• Bully: Scholarship Edition – Rockstar Games
• Destroy All Humans! Big Willy Unleashed – Locomotive
• Ninja Reflex – Electronic Arts
• Major League Baseball 2k8 – 2k Sports

Play Station 3:

• MLB 08 The Show – SCEA
• Army of Two – Electronic Arts
• Condemned 2: Bloodshot – Sega
• Dark Sector – D3 Publisher of America
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 – UbiSoft
• Sega Superstars Tennis – Sega
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 – Konami

Xbox 360:

• Rainbow Six Vegas 2 – Ubisoft
• Condemned 2: Bloodshot – Sega
• Bully: Scholarship Edition – Rockstar
• Major League Baseball 2k8 – 2k Sports
• Army of Two – Electronic Arts
• Brothers In Arms Hell’s Highway – Ubisoft
• Dark Sector – D3 Publisher of America
• Universe At War: Earth Assault – Sega
• Viking: Battle for Asgard – Sega

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free+ no tax)

Earlier today, Microsoft announced that Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista has been finalized and was released to manufacturers today. Unfortunately customers won’t have access to the upgrade which brings “enhanced reliability, security, compatibility and performance” until March. Consumer using the auto-update feature won’t receive the upgrade until April unless they manually download and install the patch. Microsoft claims performance improvements by as much as 50% for tasks such as moving large files around your machine or network. Today’s launch of SP1 to manufacturers indicates that new computers produced by companies such as Dell, HP, and Sony soon be available with the upgraded Vista pre-installed. In addition, new shipments of licensed retail boxes of Vista will come with SP1.

Hopefully the changes will help fix many of the major problems which a fairly large portion of customers are experiencing. SP1 for Vista will probably still not help it gain a lead over the performance XP will be offering with the upcoming Service Pack 3. Despite this, Vista users should be glad that at least some improvements have been made and will be available within a foreseeable date.

Links: Windows Vista Blog Post | Microsoft Vista

After the big holiday season, upcoming games seem to have died down for the moment. But be hopeful, there are a ton of hot games such as Super Smash Brothers for the Wii and Gran Turismo 5 for the PlayStation 3 heading down the pipeline for 2008!

Nintendo Wii:

• Sega Bass Fishing – Sega

Play Station 3:

• Devil May Cry 4 – Capcom
• Go! Sports Skydiving – N/A
• Conflict: Denied Ops – Eidos
• FIFA Street 3 – Electronic Arts
• The Club – Sega

Xbox 360:

• Turok – Touchstone
• Devil May Cry – Capcom
• Frontlines: Fuel of War – THQ
• Lost Odyssey – Microsoft
• The Club – Sega
• Culdcept SAGA – Namco Bandai
• The Spiderwick Chronicles – Sierra Entertainment
• Dark Messiah: Might and Magic Elements- Ubisoft
• Conflict: Denied Ops – Eidos
• FIFA Street 3 – Electronic Arts
• Dark Sector – D3Publisher of America
• Turning Point: The Fall of Liberty – Codemasters
• Universe at War: Earth Assault – Sega

Games List: Nintendo Wii | Sony PS3 | Microsoft Xbox 360
Purchase Games: Amazon’s Selection (ships free+ no tax)