Mendelson Tiu

Canon claims that its new Pixma printers will meet the needs of consumers who want the most out their printers.

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The Pixma MX700 features a Quick Start function for full operation in a matter of seconds, and claims to print at speeds of up to 30 pages per minute for B&W and 20 pages per minute in colour. A high speed ADF ensures users can copy, scan and fax with ease, the company says.

The Pixma MX700 also adds Ethernet connectivity to the new Pixma range, allowing multiple workstations in the same small office to access the printer. The printer comes with four individual ink tanks, and uses a large pigment black ink tank for black & white text based document printing, copying and faxing, while its three dye ink tanks take care of photo printing and colourful graphics.

Canon Australia’s Product Manager for Ink Printing and Consumer Imaging Products Group, K.C Lu said, “With more than 70 years of heritage in the consumer imaging market, Canon has continually revolutionised home office printing. The Pixma MX700 builds on this unique legacy and sets new standards for productivity, efficiency and quality.”

Key Product Points

• High-Speed Automatic Document Feeder
• Ethernet connectivity
• Four individual ink tanks and Canon Fine print head technology
• All-in-One functionality with print, copy, scan and fax capabilities
• Quick Start operation

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The Canon Pixma MP600

Canon Pixma MP610

Canon has also launched the new Pixma MP610, a printer that combines five individual ink tank system, a print resolution of 9600dpi, and Canon ChromaLife 100 ink, to offer photo lab quality prints to last a lifetime from the convenience of home. For enhanced functionality and creative options, the new model also incorporates the popular CD/DVD print options as well as built-in automatic double-sided printing.

Additional key product features include:

• 5 individual ink tanks
• CD/DVD printing
• ChromaLife 100
• 2.5″ TFT display
• Easy-Scroll Wheel
• PictBridge and Memory Card slot
• Scanning capabilities
• Auto Duplex

Canon Pixma MP970

The Pixma MP970 has a maximum print resolution of 9600dpi and has seven individual ink tanks for photo and document printing. The MP970 also includes built-in networking, zero warm up time for scanning, as well as film and slide scanning capabilities encourage creativity, the company says.

Additional key product features include:

•  7 individual ink tanks
• Wired LAN
• CD/DVD printing
• ChromaLife 100
• 3.5″ TFT display
• Easy-Scroll Wheel
• PictBridge and Memory Card
• Scanning capabilities
• Film/slide scan & print

Canon Pixma MP520

Finally, Canon says that its Pixma MP520 is the answer for producing every day quality prints, copies and scans at home, using the cost-saving four individual ink tanks for efficiency.

Additional key product features include:

• 4 individual ink tanks
• 2-inch LCD
• Easy-Scroll Wheel
• 2 way paper feed
• Quick Start function

Pricing and Availability
The Pixma MX700 will be available through Canon dealers nationally on October 2007 with an RRP of $299.

The Canon Pixma MP520, MP610, and MP970 are available starting September 2007 and will have an RRP of $199, $299, and $449 respectively.

See: www.canon.com.au

Western Digital has introduced its My Book Studio Edition, external hard drives that is equipped with quadruple interfaces (USB, FireWire 400/800, and eSATA) and comes in 500GB to 1TB capacities.

According to Western Digital, the USB 2.0 interface, FireWire 400/800 interfaces, and eSATA connection of the My Book Studio Edition external hard drives allow users to hook them up to any computer and will provide read and write speeds that may be comparable to internal hard drive.

Western Digital’s My Book Studio Edition external hard drives also comes equipped with an automatic and continuous backup software that works in the background and allows users to back up important projects to multiple destinations including file serves, portable drives and My Book storage appliances.

Vice President and General Manager of Western Digital’s Branded Products and Consumer Electronics Group, Jim Welsh said, “From storage-hungry high-definition video editing to big design projects and managing photo shoots, creative professionals require high-speed performance and huge amounts of storage capacity for the rich multimedia content generated by their work. The My Book Studio Edition external hard drive delivers the speed they need, plus peace of mind with automatic back up of all their hard work.”

The My Book Studio Edition external hard drive has the following features:

• Automatic, continuous backup
• Synchronization and encryption of data
• Capacity gauge that shows how much space is available
• Drive activity light
• 5 year limited warranty 

Availability and Pricing

The Western Digital My Book Studio Edition is now available and has an RRP of $329.99, $479.99, and $649.99 for the 500GB, 750GB, and 1TB capacities respectively.

See: www.westerndigital.com

Brother has unveiled new Multi-Function Centres (MFC) that the company claims is designed to suit the needs of a small office.

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The MFC-685CW Printer

The MFC-465CN and MFC-685CW feature print, scan, copy, and fax functions in one compact unit, the company says.

General Manager for Customer Service and Marketing, Gabriel Hamid said:  “These new Brother MFCs are the perfect devices for small business environments.  The MFC-465CN and MFC-685CW are reliable, network compatible, affordable and will consistently produce professional looking documents.”

With a 2-inch (MFC-465CN) or 3.3-inch (MFC-685CW) LCD screen, users may be able to view documents before printing, copying, scanning, or faxing. The large colour screens and SD card slots featured in these units enable users to select multiple images directly from digital camera memory cards, print borderless images and enhance images without the need for a PC, the company says.

The MFC-465CN and MFC-685CW claims to have a print speeds of up to 30 pages per minute (ppm) for mono and 25ppm in colour for time efficient printing, and a high print resolutions of 1200 x 6000 dots per inch (dpi).

Both MFCs include PhotoCapture Centre and photo printing software, direct USB and PictBridge printing, and dedicated photo paper trays. The MFC-685CW also features a telephone handset and can be used in wireless network.

Pricing and Availability

The MFC-465CN and MFC-685CW are now available in Australia with a recommended retail price of $279 and $399 respectively. 

See: www.brother.com.au

Plantronics has unveiled its smallest and most portable computer headset in its line-up, touted the .Audio 480 Virtual Phone Booth headset, that claims to deliver outstanding stereo sound and voice quality for laptop users on the go.

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The company says that the Virtual Phone Booth features sound-isolating earbuds and wind-noise reduction technology to filter out external distractions and enable wearers to completely immerse themselves in various communication activities no matter how noisy the surrounding environment.

The product also features a sleek and flexible boom that lets the user adjust the microphone closer for private conversations, a foldable and stowable profile design, and easy operability with inline volume and mute control, the company says.

Plantronics ANZ Managing Director, Graeme Gherbaz said, “Laptop users tend to be very mobile and often conduct activities in noisy, crowded environments, such as airports and coffee shops. The Virtual Phone Booth’s rich sound, combined with noise-cancelling technology, helps users create quiet personal spaces where they can fully engage in what they’re doing, and do so unobtrusively.”

The .Audio 480 is part of the relaunched .Audio range which includes a line up of serious gaming and VoIP targeted headphones, each with a sound isolating microphone.

Availability and Pricing

The Plantronics Virtual Phone Booth headset is compatible with both PCs and Macs (USB version only) and will be available in both analog and USB versions and will have an RRP of $119.00 and $149 respectively.

See: www.plantronics.com.au

The first native widescreen business projector from Sony, called the VPL-CW125, incorporates technologies like 3LCD and Advanced Crisp Focus (ACF) glass lens, making it the perfect projector for both business and home theatre purposes, the company says.

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The projector has a ‘Side Shot’ digital horizontal shift feature that allows the VPL-CW125 to be placed off axis from the centre of the screen, has a wide variety of input signals that includes component and composite video, S-video (Y/C), and computer signals up to SXGA+.

The projector also has a monitor output and audio-in and out, comes with a full size infra-red remote commander, and can be even be connected to a network for image projection from various locations.

In addition, Sony claims to make projector maintenance a lot easier as the new VPL-C series projectors can now be performed without removing the unit from its mounting location. The lamp is now accessible from inside the rear cover and the filter can be reached from the front of the projector. With this, cleaning the filter is only recommended at the same time as lamp replacement, reducing overall maintenance time.

Sony Australia’s Product Manager for Professional Display Group, Les Boros said, “The VPL-CW125 has a number of advantages over most professional projectors currently on the market. Today more businesses want to project with the same resolution as they have on their laptop screens, without loss of image quality. The VPL-CW125 features a true native widescreen LCD panel, delivering crisp images without any distortion. Unlike most compact widescreen projectors, the VPL-CW125 delivers excellent brightness allowing it to be used in environments with ambient light. This makes it ideal for use in meeting rooms, clubs and pubs or even for that extra large home theatre image in bright conditions.”
 
The VPL-C series also include vertical digital keystone correction and direct power on/off, as well as security features such as a control panel key lock, password authentication and a built-in security bar or Kensington lock.

The VPL-CW125 is now available and has an RRP of $4895.00.

See: www.sony.com.au

Lenovo has today unveiled the ThinkCentre M57 and M57p, two new desktop PCs that come in tower, small form factor and ultra small form factor and claims to provide the ultimate manageability experience.

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The ThinkCentre M57p desktop sports the latest in Intel vPro technology while the ThinkCentre M57 desktop runs on Intel’s quad core processor. Moreover, Lenovo has also introduced its first 22-inch widescreen WUXGA resolution monitor, the ThinkVision L220x Wide monitor, which claims to support full high definition 1080p video.

Lenovo’s Desktop Business Development Manager for ANZ, Otto Ruettinger said, “Large corporate customers are telling us that manageability and security are essential factors when purchasing PCs for their organisation. The new ThinkCentre M57 desktops provide customers the latest technologies that they need for the most productive computing experience along with the solutions that IT managers need to manage and to secure a fleet of hundreds or thousands of PCs.”

The ThinkCentre M57p desktop has the following features that will significantly reduce complexity in several ways:

• Active Management Technology 3.0 technology from Intel provides advanced levels of PC remote management to power a PC when the OS or HD is inoperable or the PC is turned off
• IT managers can manage Lenovo’s unique ThinkVantage Technologies productivity tools across the PC fleet. For example, with Lenovo’s enhanced Rescue and Recovery, a manager or user can restore data in less than 10 minutes, recover from viruses and other software failures as well as providing capabilities not found in traditional back up and restore programs.
• Supports hardware-software management solutions from Microsoft

The PCs offer a range of discrete graphics card choices and large hard drives along with security features including I/O port disablement, a TPM1.2 security chip and support for Computrace software.

Lenovo designed its SFF desktop to support discrete graphics and four DIMM slots for additional memory and upgradeability. The SFF and USFF desktops are equipped with eSATA capability (optional for tower) as well as an auto-sensing power supply unit. The company also says that the new SFF offers a quiet, non-distracting experience and will have a lower average running temperature.

Pricing and Availability

The ThinkCentre M57 and M57p desktops will be available starting October and will have an RRP of $1,399 and $1,599 respectively. The ThinkVision monitor will be available in late November and will have an RRP starting at $1,249.

See: www.lenovo.com.au

With an RRP of only $199.95, the new D-Link DIR-615 is an affordable Wireless N router that claims to offer faster speeds and farther range than earlier 802.11g technology.

D-Link’s new DIR-615 is a cost-effective alternative to the company’s Xtreme N Gigabit Router (DIR-655) and is aimed at consumers who do not require Gigabit speed wired local area network and wide area network connections.

The Wireless N Router uses draft 802.11n technology with multiple external antennas in order to maximise the speed and range of wireless signals to significantly outperform earlier 802.11g devices.  The dual antennas on the Wireless N Router can bounce multiple wireless signals off walls and ceilings to work around obstructions and help eliminate dead spots, the company says.

D-Link ANZ Marketing Director, Maurice Famularo said, “The D-Link Wireless N Router is a great choice for consumers that don’t want to hard-wire their homes to share high-speed Internet access with computers, games consoles and media players. The speed of the Wireless N Router rivals that of hard-wired connections and its better wireless signal means those speeds are effective over a much greater area than earlier wireless technology.”

The DIR-615 supports the latest wireless security features to help prevent unauthorised access, be it from over a wireless network or from the Internet. It also supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2 standards ensure the best possible encryption, regardless of client devices. In addition, the Wireless N Router utilises dual active firewalls (SPI and NAT) to prevent potential attacks from across the Internet.

D-Link’s DIR-615 Wireless N Router is compatible with existing 802.11g and 802.11b wireless devices but delivers superior performance with D-Link’s comprehensive range of Wireless N adapters.

Pricing and Availability
The D-Link DIR-615 Wireless N Router is now available with an RRP of $199.95.

See: www.dlink.com.au

Palm Australasia has debuted its Palm Treo 500v, a smartphone that combines forms of communication and multimedia capabilities with 3G mobile Internet access, the company says.

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The new Treo 500v smartphone runs on the Windows Mobile 6 Standard platform and has a full keyboard, large screen, audio and video streaming capabilities,  multimessaging functionality (Instant Messaging, SMS and email), phone and personal-information-management software in a new design. This new phone will be available exclusively through Vodafone for several months.

Palm’s country manager for ANZ, Olivier Rozay said, “The Treo 500v is priced to enable a broader audience to experience the Internet and email on the go. Today’s generation has really embraced the Internet as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family, seeking out entertainment and managing their day-to-day lives. We can offer users the choice to do what they want, how they want, when they want. The unique Vodafone interface makes the Treo 500v easy to use even for customers who have never used a smartphone before.”

Vodaphone Australia’s Product Manager for Mobile Email Devices, Neil Aitken said, “The Palm Treo 500v allows users to experience a host of 3G services that entertain, inform and allow more effective communication. Through our high-speed network, customers can use their Palm Treo 500v for on-the-spot email, messaging and web access. This new Palm and Vodafone offering will appeal to the growing group of consumers looking to enjoy the independence and ease of use of having a world of experience at their fingertips.”

Plam says that with the Treo 500v smartphone, customers can also view documents using mobile versions of familiar Microsoft applications, such as Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. In addition, users can use the Treo 500v as a modem for a laptop, so that they can stay connected anywhere within wireless coverage.

Treo 500v Features and Benefits

• All-in-one smartphone with messaging, email and web capabilities
• Full QWERTY keyboard for fast and easy typing
• Access to Hotmail/MSN, Yahoo! and Gmail email
• Large, high-resolution screen
• Internet Explorer Mobile full-featured browser
• Vodafone live! for news, sports, and entertainment on the go
• 3G network capability
• Planner with address book, calendar, to-do lists, and more
• Ability to view and edit Microsoft Word and Excel files, and view PowerPoint and Adobe PDF files
• Windows Media Player Mobile for music and videos
• 2-megapixel camera for capturing photos and video
• 150MB of user-available memory, expandable with microSD expansion card (sold separately)
• Windows Mobile 6 Standard software
• Microsoft Direct Push technology for delivery of Outlook email
• Bluetooth wireless technology

Data Bundles and Voice Plans

The Palm Treo 500v smartphone is available for $749 upfront or $0 on a range of 24-month contract plans from Vodafone. $0 contract plans include the $79 MyBusiness Cap, 24-month plan and Vodafone’s range of Business Cap 24-month plans.

For more information, visit http://store.vodafone.com.au

See: www.palm.com/au