Technology and cool gadgets blog - Mike's Quarter

Asus G75VW review – for sure one of the best 2012 gaming laptops

Last year I tested the Asus G74SX and considered it at the time one of the best gaming machines you could get in stores. This year, I got to play with its successor, the Asus G75SW, the 2012 iteration of the 17.3 inch Asus ROG gaming laptop.

And I once again like it a lot. The new machine brings updated hardware, with Intel Ivy Bridge processors and Nvidia Keplar graphics, plus a couple of improvements and additions to its successor. All these while it keeps the parts that were appreciated on the G74SX, like the aggressive design and the matte body and screen. Continue reading →

Asus K55VM review – a powerful all-round 15.6 inch laptop

I got to play with the Asus K55VM for the last week or so and in this post I’m going to share with you guys a couple of details about this experience.

First of all, this is a freshly launched laptop that’s not yet available in stores, so I did test a pre-release unit, which means that benchmark results might get even better as drivers mature. Except for that though, this unit is identical to what you’ll be able to buy in store. The new Asus K55 series will house a bunch of different laptops built on different configs, but all have an Intel Ivy Bridge processor and an Nvidia 6XX graphics chip as a foundation. Continue reading →

Intel Core i7-3610 QM benchmarks – plus comparison with Intel Core i7-2630QM

I got to play with the Asus K55VM these days and the review is going to be posted on the site very soon.

Till then, since the NDA has now expired, I’m going to show you some benchmarks for the Intel Core i7-3610QM processor and I’m going to compare them with what I got on the Asus K53SV I tested last year, with an Intel Core i7-2630QM .

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Asus N55SF review – multimedia at its best, with gaming on top

Asus recently updated their line of multimedia laptops and we got to play with the Asus N55SF, a followup for their popular and powerful N53SN series. The new version comes with a couple of improvements, adding some extra features, an impressive sound system and a new matte screen.

Asus also went for a different design on this one and while the previous generation was covered in aluminum, this one is made from plastic. Based on early opinions posted online when Asus first showcased the N55 at Computex, many resented the change, and there’s a reason for it. Continue reading →

Asus G74SX review – new gaming laptop, more powerful than ever

Asus announced their new top-of-the-line gaming laptop earlier this year, the monstrous G74. Part of their famous Republic of Gamers gaming line, this new 17.3 inch notebook comes to replace the previous G73 series and improve it. It keeps the “stealth fighter” chassis design, only it is stealthier now, as it was slightly redesigned from the previous generation; brings a new keyboard and some updated hardware, with a Nvidia GeForce GTX 560M graphic card, one of the most powerful Nvidia graphic chips you can get on mobile computers these days. Continue reading →

Best cases and covers for Kindle 4 and Kindle Touch

Now that the whole madness surrounding the new line of Amazon Kindles has finally come to an end, it is time for you to decide which one of the new e-book readers you want and you need to find ways of making them more fashionable and also protect them from scratches or bumps.

In the following lines we will therefore talk about the best protective cases and covers available right now for the new Kindle 4 and Kindle Touch.

Before getting down to the actual list, you should know that there are many cases and covers that actually fit both e-book readers, giving that they have roughly the same product dimensions, but there also a couple of accessories that only work on one of the two.

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Best Kindle Fire cases – cool top covers for Amazon Kindle Fire

After talking a bit about the upcoming Amazon Kindle Fire slate and how it should revolutionize the entire tablet market, we thought necessary to dedicate an article to accessories designed to protect and to add functionality to the 7-incher from Amazon.

While there is still some time before the Fire will actually start shipping, there are probably many of you who have already pre-ordered the tablet and think about how to ‘’treat’’ it. In the following lines we will take a look at some of the most interesting covers, sleeves and folios especially designed to make your precious Kindle Fire more fashionable, but also safer against scratches or bumps. Continue reading →

Amazon Kindle 4 vs Kindle 3 ebook readers- comparison, with video

Even though they are still not as popular as high-end tablets, e-book readers have significantly increased in popularity in the last couple of years, especially due to the Amazon Kindle family.

Lacking most of the features that make tablets so great, but impressing in terms of portability and price, it is no wonder that so many technology enthusiasts right now own or plan to own an e-reader.

And after the latest generation Kindle’s release, it is no longer a problem of whether to get an e-reader or not, but rather which one to choose. You have the old Kindle 3, which has been discounted and is still extremely functional, the new Kindle 4, the cheapest and lightest e-reader right now, and the Kindle Touch, with an exciting new interface. Continue reading →

Amazon Kindle Keyboard- details, features and prices(video)

Usually, when a tablet, a smartphone or an e-reader is upgraded, the older version of the device is pulled out of the market to leave room for the new gadget. That is what most of you would have probably expected to happen with the old Amazon Kindle recently, especially considering the fact that the e-reader is now available in not one, but two upgraded versions.

However, the old Amazon Kindle is still available for sale and is actually expected to continue selling, being rebranded as the Kindle Keyboard. The third generation e-reader should still appeal to some of you technology enthusiasts for a couple of reasons I am going to detail in the following lines.

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2011 Kindle readers: Kindle Classic, Touch and Keyboard

While when it comes to tablets nowadays the competition is extremely close, with a very wide range of top notch products, the e-book reader market is still pretty far from being overcrowded. Having that in mind, the people at Amazon, the most important e-reader producer for a while now, have decided to throw not one, but two new products on the market.

The new Kindle and Kindle Touch joined the old Kindle, renamed ‘’ Kindle Keyboard’’, and together they form a very strong, united and interesting family of e-book readers. All three products have their strong and weak points, but considering the competition you will probably be pretty satisfied with any of the three devices right now. Continue reading →