The rest of the MiniStack Max remains the same as before. Taking up the same physical space as a Mac Mini and designed to stack with it, the MiniStack Max can hold up to 4TB of data on its 7200rpm internal hard disk, can read SD cards, and can also act as a USB powered hub. Connection to the PC or Mac is done over USB 3.0, USB 2.0, Firewire 800, Firewire 400, and eSATA, though there is still not an option to connect over Thunderbolt.

Available as a bare unit without storage for $150, the MiniStack Max starts from $230 including a DVD writer and 500GB of storage, going up to $500 for the 4TB version. Versions able to read Blu-ray discs range from $360 to $530, and with a Blu-ray writer ranges from $300 to $570.

The post Newer Technology Adds Optical Drive Option to MiniStack Max appeared first on Takes On Tech.

With a hardware scan resolution of up to 600x600dpi, optical resolution of up to 600dpi, and automatic two-sided scans, the Scanjet Pro3000 s2 connects via USB using TWAIN, ISIS, WIA, and Mac drivers, and is rated to scan up to 1,000 pages per day. Scanned images can be turned into editable text using the accompanying Readiris Pro 14, sent directly to cloud storage or a SharePoint site, while HP EasyScan will allow for automatic cropping, color correction, and PDF creation.

The HP Scanjet Pro3000 s2 has gone on sale in the UK for £598 ($929), and is expected to become available in the US in the future.

The post HP Announces Scanjet Pro3000 s2 – Sports 50-page Automatic Feeder appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Until now, 21.5-inch iMacs were limited either to a 1TB hard drive or a Fusion Drive, Apple’s HDD/SSD pairing. 27-inch iMacs had options for 1TB and 3TB hard drives or Fusion Drives, as well as a 768GB SSD. The addition of smaller SSD options should be particularly useful for 27-inch iMac buyers who need performance but not a large amount of storage.

The post Apple Adds 256GB, 512GB SSD Options to Build-to-Order iMacs appeared first on Takes On Tech.

A SandForce OWC Auro Pro 6G SSD is mounted in the case, providing reads up to 436MB per second, with writes up to 429MB per second. The USB 3.0 interface provides power to the Envoy Pro EX, eliminating the need for an AC adapter.

Two configurations are available. The 240GB model is sold for $320, with a 480GB model retailing for $600.

The post OWC Ships Envoy Pro EX SSD USB 3 Ultra-Portable Storage appeared first on Takes On Tech.

First announced at CES 2011, the Express Dock was originally expected to be launched in September 2012. However, various setbacks and revisions continually pushed this date back until Belkin finally began accepting pre-orders this past February.

The final revision is being sold for $300 and features eight ports, one FireWire 800, one Gigabit Ethernet, three USB 3.0, one 3.5mm audio-in, one 3.5mm audio out, and one Thunderbolt port, that can simultaneously be connected to a computer through a single Thunderbolt cable.

The post After a Long Wait, Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock Now on Sale appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Primarily using a 21.5-inch full HD display on an ergonomic rotating stand that can sit between a 10-degree and 65-degree incline for comfort, the Cintiq 22HD provides 16 customizable shortcut keys dubbed ExpressKeys, as well as user-defined Touch Strips on the back of display for other functions. The stylus retains its 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, while the overall weight of the system has been reduced from 33.7 pounds to 18.5 pounds with the stand, 14.7 pounds without.

Just as adding multi-touch capabilities to the Cintiq 24HD added a hefty margin to the price, the Cintiq 22HD touch costs $2,500, a $500 premium on the non-touch version. Wacom will start shipping the Cintiq 22HD touch in May.

The post Wacom Updates Cintiq 22HD Pen Display With Multitouch Support appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The Overdrive 3.0 units, which will work with many machines out there, seemed aimed at MacBook Air and Ultrabook users who want a small professional package which makes  it is fast and easy to add storage to their computer.

The small, lightweight laser etched stainless steel enclosure is about the size of iPhone 4.  Wrapped around each drive is an integrated USB 3.0 “Super-Speed” cable – So you never need to go looking for a cable when you need to use the drive. The drive works with USB 2.0 too.

The Overdrive 3.0 does not require an external power supply.  The USB drive is rated at 250/150MB/s read/write speeds - 4x as fast as a traditional external hard drive. Plus the Overdrive 3.0′s includes a built in blue LED data transfer indicator and soft travel pouch.

“These products are already in-use with photographers, recording engineers and musicians and are Monster Digital’s answer to the need for reliability, speed, and convenience for the professional,”" says Monster Digital CEO Jay Tandon.

Configured to work with either PC or Mac, the drives are ready to go to work straight out of the box. All Overdrive 3.0′s include a 3-year warranty

The Overdrive 3.0 line of  high-speed, solid state drive are  available in four storage capacities of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB for the suggested retail prices of $179.99, $299.99, $599.99, $1399.99 respectively.

The post Monster Digital Debuts Overdrive 3.0 Line of External Line of SSD Drives appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The HP Elite Display E231 monitor features a 23” anti-glare, LED backlit display that provides a native resolution of 1920 x 1080, 5,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 5 ms response time, 170° / 160° typical viewing angles and a 250 cd/m² brightness rating.

The monitor features a VGA, DVI-D and DisplayPort inputs with support for  HDCP and is fitted with a stand that offers 150 mm height adjustment and the ability to pivot 90° to a portrait orientation. The display also provides a rather impressive energy efficiency of 16.6 W (standard) and 36 W (maximum).

The HP Elite Display E231 is currently $349 not including taxes, and comes with a standard three-year parts, labor and onsite limited warranty.

The post HP Announces the Elite Display E231 Monitor appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Compared to standard 9.5mm-thick drives, the new slimmer design is said to reduce weight by up to 36-percent, along with reduced noise, and non-operation shock protection rated at 400G and 1000G for the Blue and Black respectively. In order to accomplish the thin design, WD had to use a new edge connector that combines the data connection with the power feed. Despite its small size, WD still had enough room to use dual stage actuators, which are used to improve the accuracy of writing and reading data tracks.

The WD Blue 5mm is on sale at $89 for a 500 GB drive, but only to OEMs and industrial distributors at present. Versions of the WD Black 5mm SSHD are shipping to PC manufacturers, though capacities and costs were not revealed.

The post WD Ships 5mm Thick Hard Srive, Hybrid SSD/HD Storage Devices appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The new Mini-T allows consumers to use home speakers instead of resorting to cheaply designed self-powered speakers. The device can be paired with speakers already found in the consumer’s home, or can also be combined with Orb Audio’s Mod1 and Mod2 speakers.

The amplifier delivers 15W per channel, at a 0.04 percent distortion. Efficiency hits 88 percent, with a dynamic range of 102dB.

Mini-T version 2 amplifiers are available as a standalone product for $69. The Mini-T can also be purchased in a package with two Orb Mod1 speakers for $299.

The post Orb Audio Updates Mini-T Amp – Smaller Size, Increased Power appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The PA249Q ProArt Series monitor also offers 100 percent sRGB support as well as support for 120 percent NTSC. In addition, the PA249Q supports 10-bit ‘deep color’ that Asus says offers more natural transitions between different hues. The PA249Q also produces brightness rated at 350cd/m² and an 80,000,000:1 contrast ratio for better image contrast.

Connectivty includes a DisplayPort, HDMI, DVI-D and D-Sub ports, while it can also support two video inputs simultaneously utilizing a picture-in-picture mode. The function allows the second image to be displayed in one portion of the display, or in side-by-side split. The PA249Q also incorporates a four-port USB 3.0 hub for pass-through connectivity, while it is also mounted on a versatile stand with full tilt, swivel, pivot and height adjustment.

The Asus PA249Q ProArt Series will go on sale next month, with pricing to be announced.

The post Asus Launches 24-inch ProArt LCD Monitor – Focuses on Color Accuracy appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes can receive video from its HDMI, DisplayPort and DVI inputs, as well as from a smartphone or tablet over MHL. A DisplayPort out allows for the monitor to be daisy-chained to other screens, to be used as one single display or as multiple independent screens. The Q2963PM has a viewing angle of up to 178 degrees, both vertically and horizontally, boasts a dynamic contrast ration of 50 million to one, a response time of 5ms, and built-in 3-Watt stereo speakers.

AOC has put the Q2963PM on sale in the US for $500.

 

The post AOC Push Out 29-Inch Widescreen WFHD IPS LED Monitor appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The Evolution Series design allows for various storage system configurations, including JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, or used as standalone external drives modules. As needs grow, simply expand the scale by using more external hard drive modules with the same docking station.

The device ships with a pair of 1TB removable drive modules, with more purchasable. The G-Drive ev is a 9.5mm USB 3.0, 2.5-inch, 7200RPM drive with data transfer rates of up to 136MB per second in either 500GB or 1TB capacities. The 15mm-thick 1TB G-Drive ev Plus module is rated for up to 250MB per second data transfer.

The G-Dock ev with a pair of 1TB G-Drive ev modules will be available in May through through various retailers for $750. Additional 500GB or 1TB G-Drive ev modules can be purchased separately for $150 and $200, respectively. The G-Drive ev Plus modules will be available this summer for $350.

The post G-Technology Announces Removable Drive G-Dock with Thunderbolt appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Both the Echo Express III-D desktop and Echo Express III-R rackmount chassis feature dual Thunderbolt ports to support daisy-chaining of devices, and are designed for users connecting up to three PCIe cards to their computer. Each new chassis supports three full-length, full-height, single-width PCIe 2.0 cards with one x16 and two x8 PCIe slots. The III-D is small enough to fit in many travel bags. The III-R mounts in a 2U tall (3.5-inch) rack space, and its enclosure is just 15.75 inches deep, suitable for use in a wide range of mobile racks, carts, and rack bags as well as conventional racks.

Utilizing the optional Echo Express III-R Mobile Rack Kit, users can install two 5.25-inch form factor mobile rack devices in the III-R’s enclosure. The Mobile Rack Kit easily installs into the Echo chassis’ enclosure and houses one full-height (3.2-inch) or two half-height (1.6-inch) mobile rack devices up to eight inches deep. A separate 80W power supply inside the Mobile Rack Kit powers the installed devices. Each new Echo chassis integrates a universal 300W power supply and includes a 75W PCI-E power connector for cards that require supplementary power. Larger, slower-spinning fans enable the Echo Express III-D and III-R to conserve energy by powering on and off with the computer to which they are attached.

The ECHO-EXP3F-D Echo Express III-D has a suggested retail price of $979. The ECHO-EXP3F-R Echo Express III-R retails for $1,199. The ECHO-EXP3F-R-MR Echo Express III-R Mobile Rack Kit has a suggested retail price of $150. All are expected to be available in August 2013.

Echo Express III-D

Echo Express III-R with Mobile Rack Kit

The post Sonnet Adds Three-Card Models to Echo Express Expansion Line appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The current Thunderbolt hardware supports 10 Gbps transfer rates in both directions, however some uncompressed 4K formats would not leave enough room to handle the display signal.

The company also introduced Redwood Ridge Thunderbolt controllers for its fourth-generation Core-series processors, adding DisplayPort 1.2 capabilities, improved power management, smaller component size and reduced costs. Existing equipment will also be able to benefit from thinner electrical cables.

The Falcon Ridge technology is expected to ship before the end of the year, with full implementation in 2014. The next-generation tech will be backwards compatible, using the same cables as the current tech, while the thinner cables are “coming soon.”

The post Intel Ups Thunderbolt to 20 Gbps – Supports 4K Video appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The unit comes with four USB 3.0 ports, two eSATA port-multiplier ports coupled with two internal SATA ports (one port for the included optical drive and one 6Gb-per-sec port for a user-installable SSD or 3.5-inch HD), a pass-through Thunderbolt port (in addition to the TB connector port), an audio in port, headphone (and speaker), a microphone port, a Firewire 800 connector and Gigabit Ethernet along with the four USB ports. The unit also includes an 8x Superdrive (or an optional Blu-ray BD-ROM 8x optical drive along with Blu-ray software for OS X).

The idea behind the unit is to create a one-stop shop for any kind of connection users might need to routinely plug in or unplug, with more accessible ports than are found on the back of many Mac and Windows PC models. The entire unit is connected to the Mac (running 10.8.2 or higher) or PC (running Windows 7 or 8) by a single Thunderbolt cable, making it easy to detach if the computer needs to be moved or is a notebook unit. Thunderbolt ports are slowly becoming standard equipment on new Windows PC and units, and have been standard on most new Mac models for over a year. The Mac Pro is expected to gain Thunderbolt ports on its next revision, due sometime this year.

The unit also supports the addition of a standard HD or SSD drive for either backing up data or as a media library. The case can be used either horizontally or vertically to save space, and some USB 3.0 and audio connections are situation on the front of the device for items like microphones, headphones, cell phones (for charging) or USB thumb drives. It supports daisy-chaining Thunderbolt or a DisplayPort monitor as well as Firewire chaining.

With a standard optical drive included, the Echo 15 Thunderbolt Dock will sell for $400. Replacing the DVD drive with Blu-ray will cost $50 more. A DVD drive model with an optional pre-installed 2TB HD costs $500, and the Blu-Ray version with 2TB HD will be $550. Models without preinstalled HDs will be available from both Sonnet and its affiliated resellers, while the preinstalled HD models will be exclusive to Sonnet’s online store.

The post Sonnet Announces Echo 15-Port Thunderbolt Dock appeared first on Takes On Tech.

No date or official pricing for the add-on has been announced.  The card requires a Mac Pro from 2008 or later with PCIe 2.0, and a copy of OS X 10.8.3.

The post EVGA Announces GeForce GTX 680 Mac Edition appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The company claims that at medium detail, the entry-level 720M delivers 2.5x the performance overall over the integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics found on Ivy Bridge processors with the new technologies, with no additional drain on battery life over the 500 and 600 series chips.

The Nvidia GPU Boost 2.0 intelligently adjusts the clock speed of the GPU to maximize graphics performance. Nvidia Optimus boosts battery life by switching the GPU on and off so it runs only when needed. The GeForce Experience adjusts in-game settings for the best performance and visual quality specific to a user’s notebook and keeps GeForce drivers up to date.

Nvidia GeForce 700M GPUs are available to manufacturers now. Nvidia says that “every leading notebook manufacturer” will debut notebooks with GPU Boost 2.0 technology, including Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, Sony and Toshiba. Apple historically has used Nvidia chipsets in its laptop and iMac lines, but no specific announcement  of support has been made.

The post Nvidia Launches 700 Series Laptop GPU Line appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Powered by HighPoint’s third-generation USB HBA architecture, the RocketU 1144CM is tailored for performance-intensive applications including media editing and high-speed external backup. Unlike conventional USB 3.0 HBAs, each port has a dedicated USB 3.0 controller, allowing the device to deliver the fastest performance possible over USB 3.0 connectivity.

The RocketU 1144CM is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8, Mac OS 10.6.8 through 10.8.x, and some varieties of Linux. The card retails for $150, and includes HighPoint’s web-based management interface, allowing administrators to quickly create and manage a variety of storage configurations including RAID 0, 1, JBOD, and individual drives.

The post RocketU 1144CM for Mac Pro Now Shipping – Each Port Slaved to Individual USB 3.0 Controller appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The new SATA 3 2.5-inch form factor miniSwap/U3 theoretically offers more than double the speed of traditional USB 3.0 enclosures at an affordable price. Customers can utilize different drives for different purposes, providing virtually unlimited data capacity. Installing bare drives is as simple as opening the bay door and inserting the drive — no tools are required.

The FirmTek miniSwap/U3 is now available from authorized resellers with an empty case available for $100. Specially-priced, build-to-order miniSwap/U3 bundles with custom pre-installed SATA hard disks or SSD configurations are also available.

The post FirmTek Announces Bus-Powered MiniSwap/U3 USB 3.0 Enclosure appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The expansion systems include a 100W power supply and employ variable-speed fans to cool the cards and computer; a new ultra-quiet fan kit option for cool-operating cards is now available. The Mac mini’s Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and HDMI interfaces are extended to panel-mounted connectors on the back of the unit, and a USB 3.0 interface and power switch are mounted on the front. The xMac mini Server’s second Thunderbolt port enables the daisy-chain connection of additional Thunderbolt perpipherals.

The xMac Mini Server 2H will be available in late April at a suggested retail price of $1,295. The original xMac Mini Server is available now also at a retail price of $1,295. The xMac mini Server Quiet Fan Kit is available now at a for$80.

The post Sonnet Expands xMac Server Chassis Line with xMac mini Server 2H appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Some other features of the card include a 3D-capable HDMI port, two Mini DisplayPort connections, and a dual-link DVI port. A switchable BIOS allows the card to run on either a Mac or a PC, although it’s designed primarily for the Mac Pro.

The card is not yet listed at Sapphire’s website, but Newegg is selling it for $480 before tax and shipping.

The post Sapphire Releases Radeon HD 7950 Mac Edition appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Using a remodeled, cordless, and battery-free Pro Pen, the Cintiq 13HD offers 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as recognizing the angle of tilt on the stylus. With a 178-degree viewing angle, the display includes four customizable and application-specific ExpressKeys and Rocker Ring, allowing for in-app operations without having to select them on a separate keyboard or moving the stylus away from the work area. Connectivity to the host machine has been improved, with a single cable from the Cintiq 12HD providing HDMI and USB connectivity, as well as powering the tablet.

Including a stand that provides four viewing angles, the Cintiq 13HD is priced at $1000, and is expected to go on sale in early April.

The post Wacom Debuts Cintiq 13HD Interactive Pen Display appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The 2012 iMac generated some complaints when it was discovered that it wouldn’t fit into VESA mounts, as was possible with earlier generations of the computer. VESA iMacs are currently shipping in 7 to 10 days in the US.

The post Apple Now Offers iMacs with Option for Built-In VESA Mount appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Both Presto 10GbE network adapters are low-profile x8 PCIe adapter cards that can connect to a switch or other 10GbE interface by way of fiber-optic or copper cable. Sonnet offers either short-range communcations at distances up to 300 meters or long-range up to 10 kilometers SFP+ transceivers for the Presto 10GbE cards, as well as the ability to use direct-attach copper in lengths up to seven meters. Both cards are configurable using either the OS X Network control panel or the Windows Device Manager, and are optimized for use over Thunderbolt.

The Presto 10GbE one-port card is suited for most applications, providing greater speed than on-board Ethernet solutions. The Presto 10GbE Server two-port card is suited for use in servers and in applications where redundancy is critical, supporting transparent failover to keep the user’s computer connected in case a single cable is disconnected or one of the ports fails. The two-port card is capable of link aggregation when installed in a Mac Pro.

The Presto G10E-SFP-E 10GbE one-port card ($400) and Presto G10E-SFP-2X-E2 10GbE Server two-port cards ($800), and the short range G10E-SFP-SR 10GBase-SR SFP+ ($200) and long range G10E-SFP-LR 10Base-LR SFP+ ($550) transceivers are all available now.

The post Sonnet Releases a Pair of 10-Gigabit Ethernet PCI-e Cards – Fiber, Copper Supported appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Many of the same features in the RL2455HM make their way into the XL2720T, including BenQ’s Black eQualizer for brightness adjustment without overexposing white levels, and Smart Scaling for automatic scaling of different resolution content sources. A pair of FPS Mode presets will optimize the display for Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike Source respectively, with extra gaming presets able to be installed through the Game Mode Loader, and selected through the accompanying S Switch. Certified for NVIDIA 3D Vision 2, the full HD screen with LED backlighting has a 12 million:1 contrast ratio, dual HDMI ports, and an integrated USB hub.

The XL2720T is on sale in Europe for 370 euros ($480), and will be available in the US in the near future at a cost of $400.

The post BenQ Starts Selling 27-Inch Professional Gaming Monitor in the EU appeared first on Takes On Tech.

With a “Quad Interface” of FireWire 800/400, USB 3.0, & eSATA connections and set either in a hardware RAID-1 redundancy or RAID-0 speed mode, the Guardian MAXimus mini offers Mac and PC users data transfer speeds up to 300MB/s.

The new 2TB model with a pair of 1TB drives Guardian MAXimus mini is now available at OWC for $298. All connection cables and a drive utility software bundle are included with the device.

The post New 2TB RAID Model of the Guardian MAXimus mini Now Available appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The monitor boasts a 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a 5ms response time. The Acer eColor Management tool lets users optimize image performance under different viewing scenarios. The new displays also come with built-in speakers and multiple digital connectivity options, including HDMI, DVI and VGA.

The 21.5 inch Acer H226HQL display retails for $150. The 23-inch Acer H236HL display is $180. Both monitors are available at retail now.

The post Acer Shows Off New 21.5- and 23-inch LED-Backlit Monitor appeared first on Takes On Tech.

The Tempo SSD card uses a 6Gb/sec SATA controller and a PCIe 2.0 interface to deliver  read speeds of up to 500MB/sec from a single SSD or 660MB/sec from two SSDs  configured as a RAID 0 set. Meanwhile, the Tempo SSD Pro users a  higher-performance 6Gb/sec SATA SSD controller that supports sustained read  speeds of up to 960 MB/sec from two SSDs configured as a RAID 0 set.

The Tempo  SSD and Tempo SSD Pro are available now at costs of $150 and $300  respectively.

The post Tempo SSD Cards Now Support Botting on Mac Pros appeared first on Takes On Tech.

Support for H.264 SVC and UVC 1.5 video encoding frees up PC power and bandwidth by processing video within the camera and automatically adjusting performance for maximum video-quality when bandwidth fluctuates. The Logitech C930e offers additional features including autofocus, an external privacy shutter and Logitech RightLight 2 technology, which automatically adjusts the image to improve visual quality in low-light at multiple distances.

The cross-platform Logitech Webcam C930e is compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.7 and greater. It is expected to be available worldwide in May for a suggested price of $110.

Updated:  We just got word from Logitech suggested price is now $129.99, instead of $109.99.

The post Logitech Unveils C930e Webcam for Business Teleconferencing appeared first on Takes On Tech.