Apple MacBook Pro 17''

Product Unavailable Our suggested alternatives: Editor's Choice Medion ERAZER X6813 (MD 97762) Five-Star MacBook Apple MacBook Pro 17 inch 2011 Day-to-Day Computing Dell Inspiron 15R (N5110)

The 17'' MacBook Pro is at the top of Apple's range of laptops.  It offers powerful performance, a great design and record-breaking battery life--something we never thought we'd say about a computer with a screen as big as this.

We've already seen its younger brothers, but now it's time to look at the biggest Mac laptop there is.  The Apple MacBook Pro 17'' doesn't miss a trick and includes all the features of Apple laptops we've grown to love--but here, the one thing we hated, the glossy screen, has been replaced by a matte panel.

> Test: MacBook Pro 17''

> Product Survey: Laptops

> Buyer's Guide: Laptops

We’ve just heard that Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) has officially announced the release of the studio’s first 3D Full HD Blu-ray disc.
 
It’s no real surprise that SPHE has chosen Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs for this first, and therefore historic, release. The new 3D version is also likely to be launched on a worldwide scale.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs   Amazon.co.uk: £13.43

 
Although Sony Pictures has not yet given an exact official release date, the announcement alone smacked like a 3D double-whammy from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Sony Hardware. In fact, the Blu-ray 3D disc is likely to hit the market around the same time as Sony’s first 3D Blu-ray players and 3D Full HD TVs (LX series and HX900).

With the World Cup kick-off on 11 June, it’s reasonable to expect to see the 3D version of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs on the shelves sometime between May and early June 2010. Otherwise, it’ll be out sometime during the summer to coincide with the PS3’s upgrade to 3D, currently scheduled for September 2010. In any case, we’ll keep you posted.
 
SPHE worldwide president David Bishop said: ‘3D entertainment on Blu-ray is poised to revolutionize the home viewing experience in much the same way that high-definition televisions and Blu-ray Disc have over the past several years.’ He was also keen to point out that: ‘SPHE is proud to lead the way in providing compelling 3D entertainment to complement the new hardware entering the marketplace.’
 
At the time of writing, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment remains the first studio to issue a worldwide press statement announcing the release of a 3D Blu-ray disc. SPHE therefore scores points against rival studios Fox (for Avatar, possibly in collaboration with Panasonic (TBC)) and DreamWorks (for Monsters vs. Aliens).
 
But with the news now very much out there, the other studios are likely to sharpen up their acts.

Let the (3D) showdown commence!

Apple recently confirmed that rumours of a delay to the launch of the iPad are, in fact, true. Apple’s giant iPod Touch is no longer due for release in the last week of March, but is now set to hit the US market on 3 April 2010. As for Europe …

A delay in production has been caused by Apple’s apparent difficulty in sourcing certain components, and although the delayed release date of 3 April only applies to the US, it’s set to have a knock-on effect on release dates worldwide. Even in Canada, which, if I remember rightly, is not that far away from the US, consumers will have to champ at the bit for a little bit longer than their American neighbours. Across the pond, we’re unlikely to see the basic Wi-Fi version of the iPad (RRP: $499) before late April. Those of you who just can’t wait can always go check out the very first apps designed for the iPad as from 3 April, which also marks the official opening of the iBook Store. As for when we can expect the get our hands on the 3G version, watch this space!

Garmin nüvi 1490T

Product Unavailable Our suggested alternatives: Editor's Choice TomTom GO LIVE 825 Full of Functions Navigon 70 Premium Live Feature-Rich and Easy-to-Use Mio Spirit 687

Two quite different Garmins have been through our hands over the last few days. On the one hand the nüvi 1245 City Chic, compact and light, designed for women. On the other, the nüvi 1490T, wide with more comfortable usage. To each his (or her) own.

The Garmin nüvi 1245 City Chic is decidedly more feminine. Small, light, nicely designed, this is a product that's easy to carry around and means you won't get lost in the urban jungle.

With a radically different philosophy, the Garmin nüvi 1490T sets store by its wide 5-inch screen. Comfortable to use and navigate with.

> Test: Garmin nüvi 1245 City Chic
> Test: Garmin nüvi 1490T


> Product survey: GPS
> Buyer's Guide: GPS

I've taken advantage of the fact that our camera experts are away to get some snaps of the new testing room - the door was open!.

We've been talking about it here for months. We're getting it up and running bit by bit. The new camera face-off should finally be in place later today!!

 

Franck Mée and Renaud Labracherie are planning to give you a full tour shortly. Setting it up hasn't been easy. We couldn't really chuck everything out and start again from the beginning. We have however been taking into account comments on what we can now call our "old" set-up. So then, there has been a bit of a revolution but at the same time, we haven't thrown out all our old work, but I'll let Franck and Renaud tell you about it officially.

How exciting! There's been all sorts of movement up here and I know some of you will be wondering if our Barbie wil still be the star model. Answers to all your questions coming shortly.

> Product Survey: Compact Digital Cameras
> Product Survey: Digital SLRs and cameras with interchangeable lenses

> Face-off: cameras

A brief word of explanation for those of you who are wondering what I'm talking about: Panasonic's new digital camera, the TZ10, just arrived in our lab.  Not only is it a hotly-anticipated product in its own right, it also marks the start of a new era for our photography tests, as it will be the first to undergo the test procedure in our new Product Face-Off.

This camera's predecessor, the Panasonic TZ7, quickly became one of most popular tests of all time, and so it's no surprise that plenty of you are waiting for it successor, the TZ10 … you can find out more very soon …

Panasonic TZ10 MARCHANDS €     Amazon mark...  154.27  Amazon.co.uk  157.33  Pixmania  162.00  Comet  169.99  Electrical1...  183.99  Co-operativ...  189.99  Compare prices

> Product Survey: Compact Digital Cameras