Latest News
Posted on the 3 January 2012, 10:46 am
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Posted on the 19 December 2011, 9:35 am
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Posted on the 12 December 2011, 9:27 am
Choosing a LaptopOnly a few years ago, the performance gap between budget laptops and more expensive models was huge. Now, Intel's Sandy Bridge and AMD's Uano processors have brought power to the mainstream. It no longer costs a fortune to get a laptop that gives a desktop PC a run for its money. Whichever laptop you choose, you can expect a great balance of performance, battery life and features. You can even have a Full HD screen and a Blu-ray drive. However, do read our buying guide to ensure that you buy the model that best suits your needs. When choosing a new laptop, you need to think about more than just how much you want to spend. It's important to consider how you plan to use it Depending on your needs, you may find that you have to compromise, as ultra-portable models with long-lasting batteries rarely include optical drives or high resolution screens, for example. |
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SCREEN IDOL |
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| Once you've bought a laptop, you can't upgrade its screen, so it's essential that you find one with a good display. Larger screens usually have higher resolutions, which can make it easier to work on large documents such as spreadsheets, or open multiple windows at once. Most laptop screens that are 15in or smaller have anresolution of 1,366x768, which is enough for watching 720p video and browsing the web without too much scrolling. Larger screens often have a resolution of around 1,600x900, but there may be an option to upgrade to a 1,920x1 ,080 panel before you buy. Most laptop screens have a glossy finish, which increases image contrast and brightness levels but can also make them very reflective. This may be a problem if you work in a room with bright overhead lighting. Laptops aimed at business users often have glarereducing matt screens, but these are often dimmer. | |
WEIGHTING GAME |
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| If you plan to keep your laptop tethered to a desk, its size, weight and battery life won't matter, but if you want to carry it around, you should pay attention to how long it will last away from the mains. It's difficult to judge how long a laptop's battery will last based on the specification alone. Programs such as web browsers, email clients and word processors are relatively undemanding and will use far less power than video editing or gaming. We'd expect most 15in laptops to last for at least four hours away from the mains, but smaller models should last longer. Ultra-portable models should manage at least six hours on battery power, but many are capable of more. You can usually gauge a laptop's weight by its screen size. Ultra-portable models usually have 13in or smaller screens and weigh between 1 kg and 1.6kg. but they sacrifice performance, connectivity and features such as an internal optical drive. Larger 15in models normally weigh between 2kg and 3kg. while 17in or larger laptops often weigh in excess of 3kg. | |
KEY CONCERN |
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| However powerful or efficient a laptop is, it won't be much fun to use if the keyboard or touch pad is badly designed. A keyboard must be comfortable, with plenty of tactile feedback for accurate typing over long periods. Expect to find non-standard keyboard layouts and half-size keys in smaller laptops- these can be difficult for people with larger hands to use accurately. Numerical keyboards are rare on laptops of this size but far more common on lSin or larger models. Our reviews always describe how the keyboard feels and how well it works. | |
CORES AND EFFECT |
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| Most of this month's laptops have dual-coreprocessors. Intel's Core i3 and iS chips are faster and more efficient than a Core 2 Duo at the same speed, as they support Hyper-Threading to create two additional virtual cores. Intel's budget Celeron processors usually operate at slower frequencies and lack power compared with Core processors. AMD's current processors are slower and less power-efficient than Intel's, but they often cost less than the Intel alternative. Most laptops now come with 4GB of RAM, which is more than enough for most tasks in Windows 7. Cheaper models often have 2GB or 3GB. You're unlikely to see a benefit by installing more than 4GB of RAM- it has little effect on our test results- but a few applications, those for editing images, video and audio, will use the extra memory. With less than 4GB, your laptop could struggle when lots of applications and browser tabs are open at the same time, so if you do a lot of multitasking. aim for 4GB. |  |
GAME FOR A LAUGH |
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| Most of the laptops have integrated graphics that share the main system memory, which leaves less for your programs. They aren't powerful enough to run most 3D games, but can cope with older titles and HD video. They also use less power than a dedicated graphics card. Dedicated graphics cards have their own memory and tend to be much faster, although still not as powerful as a desktop graphics card. Dedicated chips that are only a little faster than integrated graphics are a waste of money if they can't handle the games you want to play, although AMD's Llano processors can work simultaneously with a dedicated graphics chip in a CrossFire setup. Battery life shouldn't take a massive hit from having dedicated graphics on-board, either, as many laptops can switch between dedicated and integrated graphics to provide better performance when plugged in and longer battery life when away from the mains. |  |
WINDOWS BOX |
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| Almost all new laptops now use Windows 7. Most use the Home Premium version, but business models usually have the Professional version. This adds features such as file encryption and network backups. Almost all netbooks use Windows 7 Starter Edition, which lacks basic features such as the ability to extend the desktop to an external monitor or change your wallpaper. As most laptops now include 4GB or more of RAM, the 64-bit version of Windows 7 has overtaken 32-bit in terms of popularity. The 32-bit version can use only around 3.2GB of RAM, but there's no limitation in the 64-bit version. It also helps boost performance in 64-bit applications such as Cyberlink PowerDirector 9. Some new software, such as Adobe Photoshop CSS, won't run on a 32-bit operating system. All your hardware will require 64-bit drivers when using 64-bit Windows, so it's possible that older printers and scanners won't work. |  |
RETURN TO SENDER |
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| Laptop warranties can vary greatly. Most last only a year and are return to base, so you'll need to pay for any shipping costs that arise when sending your laptop to the manufacturer for repair. Some warranties are longer or have collect-and-return services, where themanufacturer covers the shipping costs. It's rare to see onsite warranties for consumer laptops, where your machine is repaired at your premises or your faulty unit is swapped for a replacement, although it's more common with business models. |  |
Posted on the 5 December 2011, 3:30 pm
Congratulations! Xtreme.com.au has been voted one of the Top 25 Most Popular Australian Dedicated Server Providers on the Dedicated Server Directory, for November 2011.
Posted on the 15 August 2011, 11:26 am
The day-to-day issues facing accommodation properties have changed, in a market that has embraced 24/7, real-time demand with property managers needing to rapidly understand, monitor and respond to new reservation trends. Property management systems, like most software systems, need to evolve to give property managers the tools to meet these changing needs.
PMS needs to be easy to use, requiring minimal staff training so casual staff and relief managers are up and running with the system in a matter of minutes; have automated online integration for real-time inventory management; and the ability to provide detailed customer profiles, occupancy stats and rates at a glance.
With the growing trend of online everything, property managers need their PMS to have online integration to streamline their operations and maximise profits. The consumer driven market, that is seeing more and more bookings being made on-line, with a distinct last minute booking trend and 24/7 real-time requirements (to not just book but make payments and receive confirmation), properties without in-house tools to streamline this process are adding considerable work to their day and may also be restricting their occupancy capabilities.
NewBook has been developed from the ground up in conjunction with over 10 years’ worth of feedback from managers and staff at resorts, holiday parks, hotels and motels throughout Australia. This has allowed tailored development from the end-user perspective rather than that of programmers, and provided features often requested of but lacking from other PMS suites.
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NewBook is a state of the art, browser-based Property Management System that incorporates the latest in internet technology and mobility. NewBook places all the vital information needed for optimum operation at the user’s fingertips. Unique icons allow you to easily identify different menus and features that NewBook encompasses. It is a profitable marketing tool, as the PMS captures a wide range of data needed to make correct marketing decisions. Information analysis is simple, quick and precise, emphasizing yearly comparisons of occupancy data and other guest information.
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The NewBook interface enables maximum performance, utilizing the latest technology. Together with the use of a modern interface it offers the ultimate system for accommodation management. NewBook is designed to be a powerful and advanced property management system, based on years of experience and highly sophisticated development and focus teams. These teams have researched and brain stormed to meet the highest standards of the hospitality industry for the next century.
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Affordability: |
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Integrated Web Reservations: As an integrated and seamless online reservation system, there is no need to allocate separate room inventory for Web bookings. |
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Mobile Management: NewBook runs on any operating system & browser, making it the most verstile & mobile property management system. |
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Data Security: Your reservation & accounting data is automically stored (and backed up) in a secure computer facility complete with redundant internet connections, 24/7 monitoring and diesel powered electrical back-up. |
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Modern User Interface: NewBook has the a modern interface the offers the ultimate system for any accommodation management. |
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Clutter Free Design: NewBook menus and sub menus are neatly arranged and layered for convenient and quick access. |
Call 1300 744 458 for more information or
visit the NewBook website www.newbook.com.au
Posted on the 7 June 2011, 9:21 am
The Xtreme office will be closed on Monday the 13th of June and open again on Tuesday the 14th of June.Please note that we will be available during this period for emergencies only. We hope you enjoy yourselves!
- Xtreme
Posted on the 21 April 2011, 10:22 am
Happy Easter from Xtreme! - Trading Hours
As this year's Easter season approaches, Xtreme would like to take the time to wish all of our clients a happy and safe Easter weekend and an enjoyable time with friends and family. The Xtreme office will be closed from Friday the 22nd of April and open again on Wednesday the 27th of April. Please note that we will be available during this period for emergencies only. We hope you enjoy yourselves!
- Xtreme
Posted on the 18 March 2011, 2:55 pm
Xtreme Brisbane Contact Number
To our customers, both existing and potential: For customer service reasons, we would like to inform you that we now have a Brisbane contact phone number so those of you in applicable areas will only be charged local rather than STD call rates. The new Brisbane number is 07 3051 5848.
For all other customers, please continue to use our existing main line number on 07 5531 4816.
Regards,
- The Xtreme Team
Posted on the 7 February 2011, 4:42 pm
Xtreme Welcomes Joey to the Team!
Xtreme would like to announce the addition of our newest staff member, Joey Dowen. As our company continues to expand, Joey has recently come on board to fulfil the role of an additional IT support technician to assist in the resolution of customer issues and contribute to the speedier set up and configuration of hardware and software solutions for our customers.
Joey has had a fascination with the inner workings of computers and how they function since the tender age of seven, with seeing and understanding both the present and future of all-things-computer being a passion of his. Joey equates the construction of PC mechanics and hardware as similar to the "guts" of a car - the construction, deconstruction and reconstruction may be different in scope, but the principle is the same.
Xtreme welcomes Joey aboard and we are sure you will be seeing and hearing his name pop up in various communications related to servers, RMS, e-mail issues, Internet access and any other issues that require resolution in the near future.
- The Xtreme Team
Posted on the 25 January 2011, 5:07 pm
Xtreme Office Closed for Australia Day Holiday
Dear Customers,
A reminder that the Xtreme office will be closed for the Australia Day holiday on Wednesday 26th January 2011. Support during this time will be available for emergencies only. Business will resume during regular operating hours the following day, Thursday 27th January.
We would like to wish you all a happy Australia Day!
- The Xtreme Team
