The Q100 is impressively small with overall dimensions of 6.0″ x 6.8″ x 0.8″. In practical terms, it’s about the size of a slim external optical drive or a very slim CD wallet. The Lenovo website lists the Q100’s at $299, while its ION-powered brother, the Q110, costs $399. The slightly larger Q700, meant for the role of a HD HTPC, sports a dual core Pentium E5200 processor and GMA X4500 graphics for $499-$599 depending on the configuration.

All in all, the Q100’s small size doesn’t command a heavy price premium compared to the Eee Box or the recent DIY SFF PC we built using an Intel D945GSEJT mini-ITX Atom board and Morex T1610 case. Like the Morex build, the Q100 is fanless — as long as the hard drive isn’t substandard acoustically, it should be one of the quietest system you can get without a SSD. The Acer Aspire Revo seems like a bargain by comparison with a $200 price-tag and ION graphics, but we don’t really know about its acoustics.

IdeaCentre Q100

* Intel Atom 230 CPU
* 1GB DDR2 RAM
* 160Gb hard drive
* Intel Integrated Graphics
* Gigabit Ethernet, Wi-Fi, VGA output

The Zalman ZM-NC1000 cooler is pretty basic and doesn’t include (or need) a bunch of accessories.  Inside the box the cooler is wrapped in a thin foam layer to protect against scratches.  Once unwrapped, we discovered that Zalman had included a USB cable and a basic instruction manual.
Zalman claims the cooler features “679 High Capacity Vent Holes” and I’ll take their word for it as I didn’t feel the need to count all of the holes.  The holes are fed by a pair of 60mm Centrifugal Fans that spin anywhere between 1,100 and 1,500 rpm at very low noise.  These fans can be heard when you’re sitting at your notebook computer, but at more than 6 feet away they are inaudible.
Installation and setup is pretty straightforward. You put it on a table, use the included USB cable (A-A type) to get juice from your laptop’s USB port, and voila, setup is over! Just switch the cooler to ON and adjust desired flow of air with the knob.

One thing you’ll notice right away is that this cooler is indeed silent. When set to medium flow, which is the recommended level, you can barely hear it. I’d say it’s quieter than the regular CPU fan I have on my Sager 5760 laptop. When the cooler is set to full throttle you can hear it, but it’s only just a bit louder than the CPU fan.

I have a Sager 5760 17″ screen laptop that’s just slightly wider than the cooler itself, but the feet of the laptop to happily fit on the surface of the cooler. The measurements of the Zalman cooler are as follows: 308mm X 330mm X 40mm (length x width x height) (12.1 in x 13 in x 1.57 in). Just make sure to measure up your notebook to be sure it will fit. If it’s 15.4″ or smaller then there will be no problems.
As soon as you turn the cooler on you can feel a flow of air through all the vent holes on the coolers surface. The flow is not directed to one spot under the surface, it’s all over, so you can be certain all intake vents on your laptop will get this airflow. The aluminum feels cold to the touch and this coolness is carried by the air pushed into the notebook, so cooling is effective and helps to prevent the notebook fans from kicking in quite as much.

As soon as you turn the cooler on you can feel a flow of air through all the vent holes on the coolers surface. The flow is not directed to one spot under the surface, it’s all over, so you can be certain all intake vents on your laptop will get this airflow. The aluminum feels cold to the touch and this coolness is carried by the air pushed into the notebook, so cooling is effective and helps to prevent the notebook fans from kicking in quite as much.

The Samsung SyncMaster 793df-T/T is a 17-inch two-tone CRT monitor that is a proven performer designed for SMB and the corporate environment. It offers a maximum resolution of 1280 x 1024 (1024 x 768 recommended) with a flicker-free refresh at 85Hz.This monitor uses Samsung s DynaFlat display technology, which has no visible curvature of the internal screen surface horizontally or vertically resulting in razor-sharp images without distortion and only minimal glare. A popular choice in Samsung s conventional CRT Series, the SyncMaster 793df also includes a non-glare surface treatment, plus a wide variety of digital user controls. These controls allow for easy and convenient adjustment of the monitor s Position, Size, Pincushion, Trapezoid, Pin Balance, Zoom, Rotation, V-Linearity, H-Moir , V-Moir , Parallelogram, Recall, Color Temperature, Video Input Level, Manual Degauss, Contrast, Brightness, and Control Lock. Additional features include Samsung s proprietary MagicTune software for a truly hands-free experience and Natural Color Pro for optimal color fidelity. The SyncMaster 793df meets the MPR-II emission standards for user safety, and features a compact design, giving users the freedom to more fully utilize their desk space. To ensure years of reliable performance, the Samsung SyncMaster 793df is backed by a three-year parts and labor warranty, including the CRT. Toll-free, 24/7 support is also available for the life of the displays.

Description: The Samsung Syncmaster 793DF - Display - CRT - 17″” is a 17-inch, conventional CRT computer monitor. Compared to other conventional CRT monitors on the market, it is midpriced at around $155.

Pros: This device is compatible with both Mac and PC platforms. At 14.9 inches, this display has a short depth relative to its screen size giving it a relativley small footprint.

Cons: None noted, given available product data.

Suitability: Built for those who need more screen real estate for office use or web browsing.

Value: Overall, this monitor’s features are in line with its price.