Sony LTO-2 Tape Offers Exceptional Tracking Stability

Advancements have been made by Sony in several critical and valuable components of the second generation LTX200G tape cartridge including its transfer rate, durability, mechanical stability, track density, tape length, compression technique, media coating process and recording capability. Sony has introduced new technologies to the LTO-2 format that has significantly decreased the noise level enabling it to match with the increased sensitivity of magneto resistive heads. Tape travel stability and mechanical stability in Sony LTO-2 cartridge has been assured by its smooth and uniform tape surface. The uniform tape surface of Sony LTX200G helps to optimize the head media interfacing to ensure high output frequency.

The fast transfer speed of Sony LTO-2 format reduces the time of data retrieval and backup operations. This ultrium technology consumes less energy and therefore saves the costs. The Sony second generation LTO format offers impressive speed of 80 MB/s along with 200 GB recording ability. Sony LTX200G backup media technology secures the vital information of the clients. The backward compatibility secures the client's investments. Sony LTX200G tape's capacity and output frequency has been doubled from the first generation LTO format. The increasing storage needs of the clients can now be fulfilled by fewer Sony LTX-200G data tapes. By adopting the Sony LTO-2 technology, the clients can increase their ROI as the Sony LTO-2 format has lowered the I.T and maintenance costs.

Sony has added advanced features to the high capacity LTO-2 media format. Backup & archiving solutions offered by Sony LTO2 ultrium are highly dependable and economical. A3MP coating system has further improved the media robustness and has enhanced the output frequency of Sony LTX-200G data cartridge. The resistance of Sony LTO-2 tape has been raised by the A3MP technology. Sony LTX200G is the most dependable media tape cartridge for those demanding working environments. The cartridge shell of Sony LTX-200G tape has been ultrasonically welded that furthers strengthens its reliability. High output frequency and exceptional tracking stability of Sony LTO-2 tape leads to long life span.

Sony LTX-200G cartridge delivers excellent performance in all ultrium-2 drives. Sony has specifically engineered LTX200G cartridge for long durable life. 4-KB IC memory chip helps in fast access & retrieval of information that improves the performance. Servo writing system is used in the Sony LTO-2 data media format that lowers the tracking error rate and contributes to precise recording and reading of data. Massive backup storage needs are fulfilled by the Sony LTX200G ultrium-2 tapes offering 80 Mbps compressed speed. Incorporating a memory chip, the Sony LTX200G ultrium-2 tape offers fast access speed in tape libraries. The innovative techniques in Sony LTO-2 tape have lowered the friction resulting in stable backup operations. Therefore this feature also helps to decrease the noise level. Smooth tape surface of Sony LTO-2 helps to stabilize and speed up the backup operations.

Sony LTX200G tape technology is more advantageous, user friendly and economical. LTO tape format is very robust, reliable and cost efficient. Highly durable Sony LTX200G tape cartridges are available at tape4backup.

Jassica McIntosh (Marketing Manager)
34972 Newark Blvd, # 501, Newark CA 94560
Tel: 888-491-4949
Fax: 888-449-5050
Email: jessica@tape4backup.com

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Review of Sony Reader Digital Book

With the introduction of the new digital paper technology, there are now a wave of new digital readers on the market. It seems that digital reader technology has finally thrown down the shackles of immaturity and become a viable way to read. In this article I am going to be looking at the Sony Reader Digital Book and outlining my opinions on it.

A Sexy Little Number

The first thing to notice with the Sony Digital Reader is its stylish design. The reader comes in a number of different colors but mine is of the dark blue variety. The reader is encased in a stylish metal shell giving it a grown-up air and a hint of sophistication. The system also comes bound in an outer case which opens and closes like a book for protection.

Down the side of the screen are the numbers 0 though 9 strategically placed to coincide with menu option locations for ease of menu navigation. Below the screen there is a zoom button and a button for placing bookmarks. A nice aspect to the reader is that there are two sets of buttons for flipping pages; one which coincides with the placement of your fingers when reading a book in landscape mode and one for when reading in portrait. This is a feature that I'm particularly impressed with and that other readers such as the Irex Iliad don't possess. At the bottom of the reader there is a headphone jack and volume control. There is also a USB connector port and a mains connector for charging. The reader can be fitted with two additional memory cards. At the top of the reader there is a slot for both PROduo and SD cards. The device is light and compact, I can't help but be impressed with it's physical design.

Under the Hood!

Ok, it's time to get down and dirty. When you flick the on switch, the reader takes about three second to power up which is very favourable in comparison to the Irex Iliad which takes about 40 seconds. When the system power up you're presented with an attractive menu with 10 options which are as follows:
Continue reading - This is a helpful little feature that allows you to jump straight back into the book you were reading and at the correct page.
Books by Title - Organise the entire library of books by title.
Books by Author - Organise the library by author.
Books by Date - Organise the books by date.
Collections - with the software provided you're able to create a number of categories in which to organise the books, you can then view these categories through this menu option.
All Bookmarks - View bookmarks that you have placed on all books.
Now Playing - It is possible to listen to MP3 music while reading a book, this is where the name of the track is placed and from where you can change track.
Audio - Display the list of audio titles on the reader.
Pictures - From here you can view pictures on the reader. This is a nice feature although the quality of the pictures isn't great.
Settings - Change the various setting on the reader.

The system is quite feature rich but what is it like as a reader?

Reading With the Sony Reader

My initial impressions of the reader is that it's very comfortable, it's lightweight and compact design means that you can easily use the book anywhere at all; while relaxing on the sofa, when in bed, when outside, on the train, bus or anywhere else. It's basically just like a real book. This said, there are a few drawbacks that make reading from an actual book still the better option. For example the device takes a second or so to flick pages - this isn't such a major issue but when wishing to change a number of pages at the same time it becomes a little annoying.

I have been quite impressed with the device's battery life. Having used the device for a number of weeks I still haven't had to charge the battery. This is however dependant on how you use the reader. If you constantly listen to mp3 tracks while reading I should imagine that the battery lasts considerably less time.

Supported Formats

The supported formats for the Sony Reader are as follows:
BbeB Book - Sony's official format. Books of this format can be purchased online from Sony's book store.
PDF - This is Adobe's famous format, the reader does support PDF but there are a number of issue. I will be discussing issues and solutions below.
RTF - A universal document format. The Sony Connect software will automatically convert Microsoft DOC files to this format on uploading to the reader.
TXT - Basic text format with no kind of formatting.
Supported image formats:

JPEG
PNG
GIF
BMP
Supported audio formats:

MP3
AAC*5
What's the Deal with PDF?

When buying a digital reader a lot is made of a devices ability to display PDF files. What firstly has to be understood is that PDF displays content on screen exactly as it will display on the printed page. So if for example a book is designed for on an A4 page, it will loose a little quality and readability when displayed on a smaller screen. This isn't the end of the world however and Sony have added features to make reading a PDF more comfortable. The first of these is the ability to flip the page into landscape mode. This effectively splits one page into two and produced large text size and better image quality. This however is still smaller than an A4 page is designed to be. It's important to point out that the zoom feature does not work on the PDF format so what other options are there?

Making PDFs a Viable Option for the Sony Reader

Thankfully there are a number of free third party applications available for download that convert a large PDF file for viewing on the Sony Reader system. The best of these is called PDF to LRF converter. I have used this software extensively and find it extremely good, it's absolutely essential for anybody with a Sony Reader.

The Sony Reader Software

The system comes with a software package for uploading and managing the titles on the Sony Reader system. Generally I find the software easy to use and well designed although there are some features that I would like adding. The first of these relates to placing books in categories. As mentioned earlier it is possible to place the books into categories to make managing large libraries easier. However, with this software as of yet there is no way to create sub-categories. For me this would be a very handy feature as I read lots of science books. Instead of creating a science category with a number of sub categories covering physics, chemistry etc. I have to create these categories separately. Well, I guess this isn't a major issue but it's something that I'd like to see improved upon in the future.

The software does come with the device though I believe it is a work in progress and you will probably find that at some stage you will be able to download an improved version from the Sony website.

Buying Ebooks

Sony have there own website devoted to selling ebook specifically for the Sony Reader (BBeB Books). This website works very much like Apple's itunes and is accessed through a free software package that can be downloaded from the Sony website.

Conclusion

Using the Sony Reader I have become a real avid supporter of ebook reader technology. The amount of space I'd saved using the Sony Reader is incredible. The good thing about reading an ebook is when you have finished, you can simple delete it where as with a real book it usually sits in a corner collecting dust. Though I didn't think I would be, the Sony Reader has turned me into a really ebook fan and even encouraged me to read more than I normally do. Would I recommend the Sony Reader? You bet I would.

Richard Merry

Ebooks and Readers

My name is Richard Merry and I'm a computer studies graduate. I'm currently studying Spanish though my primary interest remains information technology.

Ebooks and Readers

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Sony Laptops Review - History, Pros and Cons

The largest media corporation in the world, Sony Corporation is one of the leading producers of video gaming consoles, video communication, information technology and electronics. Sony Corporation is even the parent company and the main electronic business division of Sony Group. This division was engaged in manufacturing five major operating segments which includes entertainment (music and motion pictures), games, financial services and electronics. In the year 1945, just after the Second World War, Masaru Ibuka, founded a company and started a repair shop for repairing radios. Along with his friend Akio Morita, Ibuka founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K. K. Company.
It was in 1955 when this company released its first commercial product TR-55 (transistor radio). After that it went on to release many such products and slowly the company changed from its original name and so in January 1958, the company's name was changed to Sony. Since then, it has been noted for manufacturing some of the best in-house standards for new storage and recording technologies as a substitute of adopting those products manufactured by other companies. At, present Sony is recognized as one of the leaders in electronics manufacturing products from videocassettes to video players, DVD's to Televisions and from Music Systems to Laptops.
Sony Laptops
Sony Laptops are truly a pleasure to have when you require computing powers however do not need to be loaded with cumbersome and heavy equipment. Sony Laptops such as the Vaio Notebooks which are a great amalgamation of performance, entertainment and style. The flexibility and multi-tasking to unite with other people makes these laptops exceptional and different from other brands. The Vaio is light laptop which is very easy to carry and comes with one of the best durability and connectivity. With this laptop you can surf the net, listen to music, play various games and even watch videos by using some of the powerful graphics of the Vaio. This series of Sony Laptops are a beautiful combination of style, entertainment and power.
Sony Laptops are actually the favorite among all the fans and music lovers. The Vaio are great in design and are very famous among the students and even home users as they have many unique features as per the users choice. There are several variations of Sony Vaio which include VGN-CR, VGN-NR, VGN-TZ, VGN-AR, VGN-UX, VGN-FW, VGN-FZ, VGN-BX etc. Sony Laptops have very much benefited from the successful electronic industry as Sony ventured into the portable computer industry to attract their existing fans around the world. The knowledge of electronics and digital music has given Sony Corporation additional edge over their competitors.
Specifications
Some of the bestselling models of Sony Laptops include TP2, AR60, CR30, FZ30 and CR30. Besides these, there are many other higher versions of Sony Laptops. Some of the specifications of these Sony Laptop models are:
The CR and NR series are mid low range series with basic features and style.
SZ, FZ and AR series are the mid range series with latest features and flexibility.
The UX and TZ series is the high end series meant for business purposes and heavy works.
The series are categorized as follow:
AR Series - Desktop Replacement. 17" display, 8.3 lbs. $1,530
NR Series - Entry Level.15.4" display, 6.3 lbs. $750.
CR Series - Mid level, choice of nine colors.14.1" display, 5.49 lbs. $870.
FW Series -16.4" widescreen display, great for movies, 6.7 lbs. $900
SR Serires - Mobile available in three colors.13.3" LED backlit display, 4.14 lbs. $1,200
TZ Series -Ultra-mobile and powerful. 11.1" LED backlit display, 2.7 lbs. $1,900
Z Series - High End and light. 13.1" LED backlit display, 3.42 lbs. $1,800

In conclusion
Sony laptops are at the innovation edge of the laptop industry and especially advanced when it comes to sound and picture quality. They are not the cheapest on the marketplace and don't intend to be so. Buying is a Sony laptop is a bit statement of a status statement but the fact is that these laptops deliver the goods not just the look. If you see yourself at ahead of the trend or simply want to buy a Top Quality laptop, Sony laptops have to be on top of your to buy list.
Pros:
Most up to date technology used
Superb picture quality
Amazing sound
Nice look / design
Brand status
Cons:
As to be expected for such quality laptops, price is high



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Sony CyberShot TX7 Review

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Today we're looking at one of the hottest cameras announced early January at the annual CES event. It came from the Sony booth and is part of the T series family which are the ultra compact point and shoot cameras. Characteristics of the CyberShot T series is that they are all high end cameras with a thin body and a sliding cover in front of the Carl Zeiss lens. They also wear a heavy price-tag and unfortunately the camera we're discussing today is no different. With a price-tag of $400 and a 2010 February release date, I'm of course talking about the Sony CyberShot TX7.

What's in the box

The CyberShot TX7 is packed like you're used to with Sony products. The packaging is very small and has the essentials printed on it. Surprisingly the blue version is shown on all boxes, it's not dependent on the color of the model inside. The first things you're going to see are the manual, a registration paper and a advert for additional accessories including the party-shot dock. After that you finally get to see the camera you've been reading so much about. The Sony TX7 immediately draws attention to itself for its slim and premium design, more on that later. Sony was quite generous on the cable side of things. You get an AC cable for charging, a USB cable and a Stereo audio cable for connecting your dock with a stereo system, but HD people will mention that sound can be transferred through a HDMI cable so this particular cable will probably not be used much.

An HDMI cable is absent so you will have to buy one of those if you want to connect your camera directly to your tv. Also absent is a DC cable, so the dock can't be used as a charger right out of the box, I was a little disappointed by that. And I have to say I was moderately surprised that a wristband and an Exmor R mention were attached to the camera right out of the box. After removing both I was all ready to insert the included battery (a really small battery, new generation not found in the previous T cameras) and a SD memory card. Yes The Sony CyberShot TX7 is the first to support not only memory pro duo but also SD and SDHC.

There was one more thing in the box. A little pen you can control the touchscreen with. I don't think anybody will want to use it but it deserves a mention nevertheless for the fans. One circumstance the pen can really shine is when you're using the drawing features on the camera. And that's all you will find in the box. Apart from an HDMI cable and a DC cable, pretty much everything you can wish for is there.

Design

The first thing you're going to notice when glancing at the TX7 is the slim aluminum design. Its all brushed aluminum and with the lens cover up, the only two things that pop are the Sony and CyberShot logos. Everything that could possibly distract you from the minimalistic design are hidden behind the lens cover. It's interesting to see that Sony has opted to change some of the little body features that the TX1 and T900 had. For one the Sony logo is now in the middle and the CyberShot name has been removed from the cover to the lower body. Also gone is the curve in the lens cover which made the older models look like the cover was actually going all the way to the back of the device. With the cover down things still look relatively clean. The lens is on the left side with the flash right beside it. The stereo microphones are placed slightly to the right.

Moving to the back. It's almost all display, edge to edge. There are almost no buttons as the camera is controlled by the 3.5" touchscreen. Sony has done a terrific job getting rid of the wide edges around the screen. On the right edge they have placed a small metal ring where you can attach your wrist band to. Compared to previous T series cameras the metal ring is now really small which is great. Some people might prefer the longer wider wristband attachment though because it allowed them to hold their thumb on it to get that extra stability. Sony also added one extra button which is a dedicated Movie/photo button. Besides that you get the same buttons that TX1 users have. The on/off button (you can also turn on the device by sliding the lens cover), the shutter release, a play button for showing your photos and last but not least a zoom rocker.

I do have one remark about the design: Why so much technical branding? Beside the lens Sony printed a lot of technical terms some of which we didn't even understand. On the top it says: HDavchd, which is one of the video formats it can record to and just above the touchscreen you will be reminded that this camera has the new Exmor R sensor. Maybe they added the info to help impulsive buyers. The house dad that bought a new camera because it looked shiny and then comes home and says: 'look dear, I bought this camera which has an Exmor R and a optical steady shot. I guess it's really good.'

Yeah well don't always judge a book by its covers. Luckily the branding isn't that annoying especially when you compare it the amount of every other camera on the market. But I would applaud the company that manages to release a camera without any branding (apart from company logo and camera series). Maybe it's just impossible because of the rights and patents or something.

The overall design of the Sony CyberShot TX7 is amazing. It's looks so clean for a digital camera. Believe me this camera will turn heads and people won't immediately recognize it as a digital camera. Which is great because the point and shoot products and SLRs are not known for their design. Also think of the benefits like when you want to take pictures of your high school sweetheart before you actually asked her out or something like that.

Ease of use

For this part of the review I wanted not only my opinion but also those of a few people around me. But first I want to mention that I quickly found the patterns in the controls which made it an easy ride for me. On the left and right side you see a lot of icons indicating modes that are active at that particular moment. For example when you've activated the panorama mode a little icon on the left side will notify you of this. If you want to change to a different mode simply click on the panorama logo and select the mode that best suits your needs. Options are: twilight (6 shots becoming 1, ideal for low light), 10fps burst mode (10 shots in a second, ideal for fast moving objects), Panorama (sweep to make, ideal for landscapes) and HDR mode (2 pictures with different settings, ideal for high contrast photos).

The Sony TX7 perfectly implemented this system in all of its controls. Click on the timer to set a timer, click on the menu button to access the preferences etc. For me at first I was skeptical of the new dedicated movie/photo button. I thought it was a waste of space as you can also switch modes using the touchscreen. But as I started shooting photographs and movies I found myself reaching for the button a lot. It's just a whole lot easier and quicker somehow to use the physical button for switching between the video and photo functionality.

Sony has done a great job with the TX7 on the ease of use department. The buttons on the left side and right side aren't just buttons, they're also indicators of the modes and settings you have selected for that particular shot. The dedicated buttons (shutter, zoom, video/photo and show gallery) are really the bare essentials and things you always want to have in reach. Not everything is perfect though. For one the touchscreen is good but not great. The iPhone will beat it with its capacitive touchscreen and multi-touch. And secondly there's no way to see which settings you have used once the photo is taken. It would be great if you could hit the little info button and get all the information you got while you were taken the picture.

Now I showed the camera to a couple of passers by, you know mom, grandma, aunt, and asked them for their honest opinion. They all said that the camera was very easy to use. The icons were clear and the few buttons made the Sony TX7 one of the few cameras that don't intimidate the users. Unlike the Panasonic Lumix TS1, which rumors say scared Bill Gates once. So it seems that the device is easy to use for both tech geeks like myself and regular folks.

Specs and features

The Sony Cybershot TX7 comes with all the latest technology from Sony. The modes includes: smile mode (camera takes a photo when subject smiles), face detection, panorama, 10fps burst, twilight and much more. The auto mode is going to be the mode most users leave it at. In that mode the camera automatically detects whether you're attempting a macro shot, twilight or any other shot. It also knows when it's on a tripod, which is really cool.

Image quality

Overall the pictures this point and shoot can produce are quite good. With its wide angle lens (25mm) landscapes photos are a please to make and look at. But I did notice a touch of softness in the edges. And because the camera tries to keep noise down, some sharpness goes lost in the process. Colors are realistic but some users may not like it because they aren't really as vivid as some other compacts on the market. But for me I prefer a more realistic look to the "Disney" feel that has become really popular these days.

The panorama shots are great, a real plus. They always work, I've shot 10 so far and all 10 were flawless. Of course sometimes a small stitching error is made but given the ease of use I can hardly complain. Twilight mode is another thing users may want to experiment with. In this mode the camera takes 6 shots and compares them to create the ultimate photo. It works because in this mode low light pictures are considerably sharper and have less noise. HDR mode is the last one I'm going to talk about in this review.

Here the camera attempts to make a photo with lots of counter light. Imagine a tree with the sun behind it shining in your camera. In a normal situation the tree will be black with a big yellow dot behind it, right? Well in HDR mode the camera attempts to photograph the tree without any loss of tree details. So instead of a black tree, you get a brown tree with some nice textures on it. Surprisingly this mode works outstanding. I say surprisingly because these types of shots could only be managed my $1500+ SLR cameras in the past, that is until today because the Sony TX7 handles them with ease.

Conclusion

Sony has delivered a stunning camera with the release of the Cybershot TX7. It's a very compact device that you can take with you everywhere. It looks great from every angle and most people seem to agree because this camera is a real head turner. The touchscreen is pretty responsive (almost iPhone like, but not quite) and the different modes and options are easy to find. So the camera is very easy to use. Picture quality is good but not SLR like. The image can be a bit soft but the TX7 does a great job keeping noise away and making really good photos in a very short time. Video recording of this cam is superb. It's the best I've ever seen and I still can't believe all that is coming from such a small device.

So I recommend the Sony Cybershot TX7 to people who want a good looking small compact camera that takes really good pictures. You won't be disappointed, just don't expect SLR quality.

Sony tx7 review

I'm Robin Chung, author of the dutch book Tegenlicht. I have a website that brings interesting reading material from all kind of subjects like health and gaming. The website also includes a forum, so you can discuss the articles, and you can order my book from there.

http://www.robinchung.com

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Sony Ericsson Mobile Phones - The Evolution Continues

Sony Ericsson have consistently held their place within the top 5 mobile phone manufacturers for over 10 years, this is in no small part due to the vast range of new handsets that the manufacturer releases on an almost weekly basis.

It does not seem that long ago when a Sony Ericsson mobile phone would conjure up images of square, brick shaped devices with a massive antenna poking out of the top of them, having said that these were still far smaller and feature rich than their competitors' offerings, which were sometimes better at holding the door ajar than making wireless phone calls.

The merger between Sony and Ericsson took place 5 years ago and the combination of these two very capable manufacturers has produced some of the most sophisticated and functional mobile devices ever to grace the mobile market.

Sony Ericsson have catered for every users requirements, from the technofobes who shy away from new fandangled technology but realise they do have a need for a mobile phone if just for emergency situations right through to the gadget hungry, self proclaimed 'geeks' who relish the fact that they can own a the latest and most feature rich handsets.

At the bottom of Sony Ericsson's portfolio where the handsets are simply for making and receiving calls and text messages there are the budget range. These include models such as the Sony Ericsson J100i and J230i.
These handsets are easy to use and do not include high-end features such as cameras, mp3 players and email support, they are simply there to make calling and texting a no hassle task. Because of the lack of these power draining applications these phones hold some of the longest battery lives of the Sony Ericsson range, ideal for people who literally just take their mobile phone with them in case of emergency.

Moving up the scale the next range of handsets encountered are the K-Series, these range from low specification, budget models with simple VGA cameras right through to 3.2 megapixel camera phones. This range is easily recognisable for its candy-bar design, there are no flips, clamshells or slider models, they are simply incased units with the display screen on the front of the phone with the keypad situated underneath and a camera lens on the back.
The low end of the K-Series offers models such as the K310i, a simple camera phone offering Bluetooth, Mp3 Player and 3D gaming. This model is small and light and not over fussy on design, ideal for users looking for a camera phone on a budget.
The mid range of K-Series features more technologically advanced models such as the Sony Ericsson K610i, a 3G enabled phone with a 2.0 megapixel camera and support for face to face video calling, this particular model is a great entry phone into the world of fast download speeds and mobile video that is 3G.
At the top of the K-series range there is the Sony Ericsson K810i, this device takes the camera to a high quality 3.2 megapixels with cybershot technology allowing for autofocus, zoom and flash. Other K810i features are Bluetooth, MP3 Player, FM Radio and 3G support.

The top of the range Sony Ericsson models and probably the most known of all of their phones are the W-series Walkman devices, this is where Sony really has their input of years of manufacturing Sony Walkman products such as portable CD players and MP3 players.
These are music orientated mobile phones, starting with the W300i that is a low budget, flip phone offering Walkman applications for uploading music tracks from a PC and creating playlists, finishing with the Sony Ericsson W880i, a slim and stylish music phone featuring a 2.0 megapixel camera, Bluetooth and 3G support, it is at the very top of the W-series and a gadget hunters dream device.

As Sony Ericsson move into the future they are already giving consumers a taste of what is to come, expect more and more megapixels from the cameras, new versions of the Walkman software for even more user defined options and new technologies for helping professionals in their businesses lives.

The mobile device is set to take over from standalone products such as cameras and MP3 players, in the future consumers should only need to leave the house with just one item to communicate, capture and amuse themselves and Sony Ericsson are certainly heading in the right direction to fulfill that dream.

If you would like further information on any of the Sony Ericsson phones featured in this article including the Sony Ericsson W880i, please feel free to visit our mobile phones shop.

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Sony KDL26L4000 - The No Nonsense 26 Inch LCD TV

When it comes to TV's, there is nothing quite like having a Sony. With decades of quality experience, this Japanese firm has made a reputation for itself with all of the products they create but nothing quite invokes sighs of appreciation and deep envy that the TV's they produce. Not only do they look good, but more importantly, they have superb quality that has been the benchmark for TVs all around the world. And with the inclusion of the BRAVIA LCD TVs in their line-up, Sony has once again shown why they are the company to beat.

There are some people though that doesn't have Sony first in mind when they decide to buy an LCD TV. Why, because although they would have nothing else, it also has a reputation for being pricier than other TV brands. This is a big misconception. True, there is no denying it, Sony can be a bit pricy, but there are some LCD TV's in their model line-up that can also be affordable and still have the touted Sony quality performance. And one of this is the Sony KDL26L4000.

The Sony KDL26L4000 26 inch LCD TV is one of the smaller models included in the Bravia LCD TV series that Sony offers. Like the previous Sony TV line-ups, the Sony KDL26L4000 is a TV that has a sole purpose of combining excellent performance, stylish designs, and a price that is fair considering what it offers. And with the famed Bravia Engine in the Sony, you are already one step ahead in having a fulfilling home viewing experience.

To some, the Sony KDL26L4000 may very well be defined as an affordable LCD TV because of its small size. Well yes, but, that's not it, its affordable as well when compared to other LCD TVs in its screen display size. Another consideration is that the Sony KDL26L4000 TV is a part of the entry level series. While it lacks the bells and whistles and all other features that its higher end models possess, the Sony more than makes up for it in its picture performance.

Besides the performance quality that an LCD TV provides, many people are also looking forward to the fact that LCD TVs can be used for a variety of video input sources. And this is where connectivity issues arise. Like the previous CRT TVs, connection options are mostly found at the back of the set with these flat panel TVs. And with this Sony, you have a multitude of connections that will allow you to use it with a variety of gadgets like video players, new generation video gaming consoles, a hi-def video camera, and even a PC, all yielding high quality images. Available connections with this Sony TV include input ports and sockets for 2 HDMI, RF antenna, S Video, 2 component and 2 composite, PC, Ethernet, and a headphone.

Design wise, the Sony KDL26L4000 is a marvel to behold. It's mesmerizing to look at this unit when it displays its top quality video performance, and still keeps on mesmerizing when turned off. A glossy black bezel frames the screen and this is a standard with most Sony LCD TVs. And whether you choose to keep it on its stand placed tabletop or hanged on the wall, this Sony television is the best choice for those who want an LCD TV that promises quality not only in performance, but also in durability.

Electrical Deals specialize in graded consumer electronics products, compare our prices on the Sony KDL26L4000 26 inch LCD television. We have a large range of discounted Sony televisions now in stock.

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Does the Sony PRS600 Touch Edition eReader Have What it Takes to Challenge the Kindle 2?

Sony's new Touch Edition eReader is arguably the biggest current challenger to Amazon's Kindle 2. The following is based on my impressions after using the Sony PRS600 eReader for a few weeks. I also have a few opinions on how it compares to the Kindle 2.

First of all, let's list a few of the specs of Sony's new touch screen eReader:

6" touch screen; 600 x 800 pixels; 8 gray scales
Freehand note taking and annotating, highlighting; use included stylus or virtual keyboard
512 MB memory onboard will hold up to 350 ebooks
Accepts Memory Stick Pro Duo or SD card
Single font adjustable to five sizes
Battery lasts for up to two weeks or 7,500 page turns
Built-in dictionary
Available in silver, black or red
Formats supported: PDF, Adobe Digital Editions, epub, mp3, Microsoft Word files, BBeB
The PRS 600 comes with a neoprene carry bag. You would probably want to get a good cover though, as the included carrying bag does not provide much protection. You also get a USB cable to connect to your computer and a quick start guide. If you want an AC adaptor you will need to purchase that separately. You can probably do without though as eInk based eReaders like this one have very good battery life. A full charge does take about four hours, during which time the eReader must be connected to your powered on computer's USB port.

Sony also announced a few new features to go with their new eReaders. For one thing, Sony eBook Store software is now Mac compatible. In addition Sony ebook readers will be supporting Adobe Digital Editions, which means you can purchase ebooks from sources other than the Sony eBook Store. Ebooks in the Sony eBook Store will also be offered in Adobe Digital Editions so that owners of other ebook readers can purchase ebooks from Sony if they are also compatible with ADE. Finally, you will be able to borrow ebooks from public libraries that use Overdrive as their supplier for digital media.

Being able to check out ebooks from your local library and read them on your eReader sounds like a really good feature, but at the current time it is somewhat limited. Most libraries only have a few titles to choose from. The Los Angeles Public Library system for example only has a little more than 200 titles at this time; and that is a large library system. Libraries also have a finite number of "copies" of each title so most ebooks will have a waiting list to get on before you can check one out.

The Sony PRS 700, which the Sony Touch Edition replaces, was notorious for its bad glare which made reading outdoors or in bright light difficult. This is a common problem with touch screens, as is reduced contrast. The PRS 600 is not quite as bad as the PRS 700, but there is some glare. Contrast is also not as good as on most eReaders without touch screens. When reading outdoors I found the Touch Edition to be quite readable in either full sun or full shade. Where I had problems was in partial shade; it was hard to find an angle that did not show glare patterns on the screen. Indoors I found the worst glare when reading beside a table lamp, or when reading in bed with a side table lamp.

Glare issues aside, the touch screen does make navigation easier. Page turns are accomplished by either using a finger swipe on the touch screen or by using the buttons at the bottom of the eReader. The finger swipe takes some getting use to. The Sony Touch is rather difficult to use with one hand while reading in bed. Sony could have made this easier by placing page turn buttons on the sides of the eReader rather than on the bottom.

The touch screen also comes in handy for taking notes and highlighting. You can use the stylus to scribble in the margins if you like. You can also make annotations on PDF's, but not while they are zoomed. The default PDF view is usually too small to read as a whole page is fitted onto the screen, which on the PRS 600 is a little small for this purpose. You can use the zoom-in function on PDF's and then pan the image around using your finger on the touch screen.

You also have the ability to group your ebooks together in "collections" of titles based on author, category, etc. You can only do this from the computer however, not from the eReader itself.

On the whole I have enjoyed using the Sony Touch Edition. There are, however, a couple of areas where I think it falls somewhat short when compared to the Kindle 2.

First of all is the not so small matter of content. If you remove the Google public domain ebooks from the Sony eBook Store you will be left with about 1/3 of the number of titles that the Kindle store has. Yes, you can purchase ebooks from other online ebook stores, but mostly they seem to have pretty much the same titles at similar prices. When I have compared ebook prices the Kindle store almost always is less expensive for a given title.

Then of course there is Kindle's wireless connection. Of course purchasing ebooks wirelessly is very convenient, but the wireless connection also makes the Kindle 2 much more versatile. If you want to research something you are reading you can access Wikipedia or search on the internet. The Kindle browser is a bit clunky, but if you need to access the net or check your email, it's there for you. For me this is a much more valuable feature than the touch screen. Sony has also announced the Daily Edition eReader, which should be out by the end of 2009 and should come with a wireless connection. However, Sony's wireless will only let you connect to the Sony eBook Store; no internet and no wireless connections to other ebook stores. At least that is the information that has been released about the Daily Edition so far.

In conclusion, I do like the Sony. I found the glare to sometimes be distracting, but not so bad as to be a deal breaker. You may feel differently though, so it might be a good idea to have a hands-on look if you have a Sony Style store near you. I think Kindle's wireless connectivity is a much more compelling feature to have than Sony's touch screen though. And unless you mainly want to read current bestsellers (which are mostly $9.99 everywhere) or Google's public domain offerings, you may find that you will have less reading material to choose from with Sony's eReaders than with a Kindle 2, and it will probably cost you more.

For more ebook reader news and reviews, please visit me at http://www.findebookreaders.com

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