Friday, December 30, 2011

Happy New Year from all of us at Mittoni!

Happy New Year to all our resellers & suppliers, friends & foes! 2011 has been a great year and 2012 looks set to rock hardcore - So.... ARE YOU READY???

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Noctua NF-F12 PWM fan review on RBMods

"it is possible to run this fan at reduced voltage to make it unaudible. Running with the provided RPM-reducer NF-F12 PWM was absolutely silent and you couldn’t hear the noise of it under all the other noise coming from your computer. Also the rubber feet attached to fan will reduce resonating noises from the fan. I’d suggest this fan to anyone who needs silent, yet reasonably powerful fan in their computer with either CPU-cooler or general case fan."

Ville Ilonen - RBMods

Noctua NF-F12 PWM 120mm fan review by RBMods - Introduction & Conclusion.

G.Skill DDR3-2133 F3-17000CL9D-8GBXM memory review by FutureLooks

"This set of G.Skill Ripjaws X is a very solid investment for any system being built. At a capacity of 8 GB and guaranteed to run at up to 2133 MHz (9-11-10-27), it provides a lot of flexibility. It is more than enough to run any game, minor video editing system, and has plenty of overclocking head room for those looking to start at 1600 MHz or 1866 MHz. On top of its versatility, the price... makes it is one of the cheapest sets of RAM you can get at 2133 MHz with CAS 9 latency."

James White - FutureLooks

G.Skill F3-17000CL9D-8GBXM DDR3-2133 memory review by FutureLooks - Introduction & Conclusion.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Mittoni Head Office Open 28th, 29th & 30th Dec 2011

Just a quick heads up to let you know our Melbourne head office is open on December 28th, 29th and 30th 2011 to ensure all resellers have access to stock during this peak retail time of year.

PH: 1300 200 000
EM: sales@mittoni.com.au

Please note all DROP-SHIPs or orders for delivery will be dispatched from Vic on these days. Pickups are only available in Vic as the NSW branch is closed during the Xmas-NY period.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

The importance of a 'mobile friendly' website & the 'smart phone toting shopper'!

"First of all, 2011 is retail’s biggest year yet online--even bigger than the record-setting online shopping season driven by the strong Aussie dollar last year. Year over year, shopping-related searches are up 29%, making it more important than ever for businesses who want a piece of the action to get online.

However, it looks as though this year’s true Christmas miracle is mobile. While retail has posted impressive gains over last year’s season, the number of shopping queries coming from mobile devices increased 220% year on year. In fact, one quarter of all Christmas shopping-related Google searches this year now come from mobile devices.

This growth may be dramatic, but it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise. As we revealed in September, Australia has the second-highest smartphone penetration in the world. And by the end of this year, more than 50% of Australian adults will own a smartphone--just in time for Christmas. They’re using those smartphones to research gifts and contact local businesses. 1 in 5 sometimes even bypass the PC to make online purchases directly via their mobile phones."

Ross McDonald - The Official Google Australia Blog

Read Ross's comments on The Official Google Australia Blog.

Survey highlights need for local retailers to improve online offerings

"According to Getprice, the bells are still tolling for online retail in Australia. However it seems local retailers are missing out on sales due to limited product availability.

With a short two weeks until C-Day, the latest survey by Getprice (of more than 1,800 shoppers), highlights that online is still the preferred channel for Aussie consumers, with two thirds of respondents turning to e-commerce in order to avoid the constant battle for parking and navigating onerous crowds offline."

Nirosha Methananda - Power Retail

Read Nirosha's full commentary on PowerRetail. Mittoni, of course, makes selling online a breeze - So take a moment to overview our CSV files once you log into our website, it could change your life!

Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler on Review Stash

"Noctua is truly the last word in the industry when it comes to quiet, high-performance air-based cooling products. Three years ago they released the highly regarded NH-U12P heatsink - a unit that was only challenged by the legendary Thermalright and Prolimatech units. Always improving their products, Noctua is once again back at it with a fully redesigned six heatpipe, massive dual fin array tower cooler - the NH-D14 is air cooling at the most high-end level imaginable...

It's really hard to not love Noctua's NH-D14. Ignoring the MSRP, you can usually find the NH-D14 for just ten dollars more than Corsair's H50. The installation is easier, the performance is better, and the quality is much higher - you do not have to worry about leaking anything onto your expensive components. Not only that, but the NH-D14 performs well even with the low RPM fans that Noctua has included; this means, with an additional purchase, it is highly likely that you could get unheard of performance out of your NH-D14. The overall retail package is impressive and definitely makes you feel like you aren't simply purchasing a cooling component, but becoming an "owner" of a Noctua product; Noctua is also one of the few companies to offer a six year warranty. If you're in the market for a new heatsink and can scrounge up the money to purchase the NH-D14, know that your money is being well-spent (even if you aren't overclocking your processor)."

Daniel Levy - Review Stash

Read the full Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler series review on ReviewStash.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

The Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction now live

There has always been a correlation between people working in the IT industry and Science Fiction devotees, so this will be a great time waster for YOU!

The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction has just gone live, which is a combination of over 20 years work (cripes!). It is a database with thousands of entries to do with all aspects of Sci-Fi....

Thermaltake Toughpower 1200w PSU review on Future Looks

"If you’re on the hunt for something that looks and feels different, I recommend the Thermaltake TPG-1200M NVIDIA SLI and AMD Crossfire 80Plus Gold certified power supply. You can find this elite unit on sale for about $279.99 which is just slightly more than its TPG-1050M sibling. The series is unique, stands firm against the hungriest computer components and will save you money on your power bill. Therefor, I’m giving the TPG-1200M my Editor’s Choice in the 1200 Watt 80Plus Gold level."

Eric Garay - Future Looks

Thermaltake Toughpower 1200w PSU review by Future Looks - Introduction & Conclusion.

Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I case reviewed by Real World Labs

"The build quality of the VF-I is quite good, its design is very nice, it has room for a total of 7 fans, USB 3.0 support (VN600A1W2N model), plenty of interior space, enough room for great cable management, tool-less mechanisms for all of the drives and room for the tallest CPU Coolers and longest graphics cards....if you do like its design and set of features then i really doubt you can find something better currently, not in the sub 60Euros category and that's why we are happy to award the Spacecraft VF-I with our Editors Real Deal Award."

Nik Kastrantas - RW Labs

Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I mid tower chassis review by RW Labs - Introduction & Conclusion.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Noctua's new NF-F12 PWM 120mm fan review & deboxing video

"Overall, the Noctua NF-F12 PWM fan is a great fan and definitely maintains the quality and performance that has become associated with Noctua products.The main features that went into this fan, and make it great at the same time include the Focused Flow Frame, stepped inlet design, inner surface microstructures, sso2 bearing, metal bearing shell, Heptaperf Impeller. These innovations have created one of the best fans on the market."

Tyler Bernath - Elite PC Reviews

Read Tyler's full commentary on the brand new 120mm NF-F12 PWM fan from Noctua, Australia's #1 choice for low noise, high performance system builds.

So, like what's in the box?

Logitech K400 keyboard review on TechAU.TV

"Thanks to the lightweight unit, well condensed keyboard boasting a full set of pliable keys, and an impressive multi-touch supported touchpad, the Logitech K400 is an easy and high quality recommendation for anyone looking to get a long distance grip on their HTPC from the comfort of their bed, couch, or floor."

Bryce Wilson - TechAU.TV

Read Bryce's full commentary on the Logitech K400 keyboard.

Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU cooler review on PC Perspective

"Thermaltake has refined and perfected what a truly exceptional heatsink should be when they created the FrioOCK. The massive size of the heatsink, combined with two 130mm fans in a push-pull configuration, helped us attain our highest overclock on an LGA 1155 processor we've every produced. While there were some clearance issues with taller memory modules, the fact that the FrioOCK is affordable, durable, and a monster performer makes this CPU cooler a sweet find for any PC enthusiast or overclocker."

Steve Grever - PC Perspective

Thermaltake Frio OCK CPU cooler review by PC Perspective - Introduction & Conclusion.

Tt eSPORTS Meka G Unit keyboard review on Vortez

"The performance of the keyboard is excellent for gaming as you would expect given the use of Cherry Black MX keys throughout. MMORPG gamers will be thrilled with the amount of macro keys available and for those gamers; this keyboard offers the perfect balance of durability, performance and functionality. It will suit FPS gamers too and is the equal of any other mechanical keyboard on the market at present."

Richard Weatherstone - Vortez

Thermaltake Meka G Unit keyboard review by Vortez - Introduction & Conclusion.

Thermaltake Overseer RX-I chassis review on TechPowerUp

"The Overseer has an interesting feature set, with three fans - two of them 200 mm, an HDD dock, cool pulsating power LED and a nifty looking window. On top of that it can hold the biggest CPU coolers and longest graphics cards, while keeping things nice and tidy within the case."

Darksaber - TechPowerUp

Thermaltake Overseer RX-I chassis review by TechPowerUp - Introduction & Conclusion.

Auzentech i.Fuzen HP1 - The bottom line according to PocketFullOfApps

"The bottom line: The i.Fuzen HP-1 is the best case for the iPhone 4, it won’t ever let you down, and is simply great."

Aaron Whitfield - PocketFullOfApps

Read Aaron's full commentary on Auzentech's excellent i.Fuzen HP1 for iPhone4. The most useful companion to the Apple iPhone 4 is now available from Mittoni. Ordered yours yet?

Auzentech's i.Fuzen HP1 For iPhone 4 examined by iPhoneSpies

"I turned on the numeric battery option (jailbreak settings) to better monitor the charging. Whenever I saw the iPhone come close to 100% I switched the charging off to conserve the battery. By Monday morning the battery pack had 50% battery life left according to the LED status, and my iPhone still charged over 70%... If tethering the internet, streaming, or even playing tunes on the go, the iFuzen could be your best friend."

Joe Rocha - iPhoneSpies

You can read Joe's full commentary on Auzentech's excellent i.Fuzen HP1 for iPhone4.

Auzentech's i.Fuzen HP1 For iPhone 4 reviewed by iPhoneWorld

"The main and most important feature of this case is an amp. It features J-FET OP-AMP to provide Vacuum Tube like sound output with 180mW output power. To enjoy that power all you have to do is press a button on the side of the case. You also get a touch-panel on the front to control volume, which is quite nice. The amp provides higher volume, as well as a broader range for music. Everything feels much richer: be it classical instruments, Drum and Bass or Vocals. The end result is a much richer experience then what you would get with the stock iPhone."

David - iPhoneWorld

You can read David's full commentary on Auzentech's excellent i.Fuzen HP1 now available from Mittoni.

Monday, December 5, 2011

New products from Noctua - Including the D14 SE2011 CPU cooler!

Much to the concern of cooling manufacturers worldwide, Noctua have released two new products, the mesmerising NF-F12 PWM fan & also the highly anticipated NH-D14 SE2011 Edition PWM CPU cooler. Both arrive into stock shortly, so be sure to update your pricelist and website to include the latest offering from Australia's most popular cooling solution provider!

So, just how quiet is the new NH-D14 SE2011 in flight? I could tell you, but you'd never believe me.... So - check this out:


Bigger, quieter & more fun. What more could you want???

Be sure to list both the new Noctua NH-D14 SE2011 Edition PWM CPU cooler & the new 120mm NF-F12 PWM fan at your earliest - savvy consumers have been waiting for these since launch and there are early bird sales to be gained!

* Please do note the new D14 is Intel Socket SE2011 only. It is not a replacement for the existing NH-D14 CPU Cooler which is the multi-socket version (however it comes without clips for SE2011).

Friday, December 2, 2011

Picture a gamer - What do you imagine? If it's a teenage male - You need to rethink your picture!

"The average Australian gamer is 32 years old and we've moved well away from the traditional teenage boy stereotype of a gamer. Australian gamers are parents and grandparents ‘snacking' on games when they're commuting to work on the bus or train, or while they're filling in that little bit of time between meetings."

Dr Jeff Brand, Associate Professor at Bond University - PimpTV

You can read Jeff's full commentary on PiMP.TV.

Gunnar Scope eyewear review on LegitReviews

"I have been using the glasses for a little over two weeks while playing Starcraft II and World of Warcraft. I can honestly say that my overall experience using the SteelSeries Scope pro gaming glasses has been really positive. My eyes are more relaxed and less fatigued while playing these games. I used to play Starcraft II for about 2-3 hours a night and go to bed with sore eyes and sometimes headaches. Since I have been wearing the Scope gaming glasses, I can play longer and have not had a single headache which is a great feeling. The longest gaming session I played was about 6½ hours before I started to feel tired. That, in my opinion, makes these glasses worth the money right there"

LegitReviews

SteelSeries & Gunnar Optiks Scope Digital Eyewear review by LegitReviews - Introduction & Conclusion.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Gunnar PPK's examined by GamerTheory

"The first and most noticeable reason was that the harsh contrast of the LCD image was tempered dramatically. The lenses are tinted an amber color, and as a result you don't get any harsh whites in your view. I'm a person that has issues with computer screens, but my job forces me to spend a good 10 hours a day in front of them, so anything that can reduce the strain that the bright white spaces on web pages, programs, and games produce, is a product that has already taken the first step at winning me over.

The second big thing I immediately noticed is that the lenses have a slight magnification effect. My computer monitor resolution is set at 2084x1152, which makes 12 pt. text fairly small. Without having to sacrifice resolution, I get larger print on the screen while wearing the Gunnars. The effect is similar to what reading glasses provide, but they work at any distance from the screen, not just at an ideal one. The magnification really eased up the strain on my eyes and after about an hour I noticed a big improvement in my overall viewing comfort.

...Even if you are just doing lots of typing, the Gunnars provide a noticeable increase in comfort; and for someone like me who deals with eye strain, they're worth every penny."

Jeff Rivera - GamerTheory

Read Jeff's full commentary on Gunnar PPK Indoor Digital Eyewear.

Gunnar PPK indoor digital eyewear review on LVLOne

"We got our hands on a pair of their PPK Gunnar shades and have been test driving them for more then week so here are our thoughts. At first the thought of having to use glasses to enhance your gaming sounds a bit like a gimmick. You have been gaming this whole time without anything so why would you start now? Because they do a good job at what they advertise."

Remdog - LVLOne

Read Remdog's full commentary on Gunnar PPK Indoor Digital Eyewear.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Gunnar eyewear review on The Tech Report

"Overall, I have been pleasantly surprised by the Gunnars, which have become an integral part of my work day and play time. I was somewhat skeptical at first, despite positive testimonials from co-workers, but am glad I took a gamble on this product."

David Morgan - The Tech Report

You can read David's full commentary on the excellent Gunnar glasses range now available from Mittoni.

Lian Li PC-6 chassis review on NinjaLane

"It is simply impossible to review the PC-6 without going on and on about the build quality. Everything component just fits and is just where you expect it to be. After working with a string of steel cases the all Aluminum construction is a delight. Nothing flexes and the finished build is so much lighter to lug around to LAN parties and such."

Darren McCain - NinjaLane

Lian Li PC-6 chassis review by NinjaLane - Introduction & Conclusion.

Thermaltake Overseer RX-I chassis written & video reviews on Vortez

"Turning to the features we have access to a plethora of options, be it connectivity, cable management or installation. The front panel controls comprise of a variety of USB ports including USB 3.0 via the motherboard header cable and we even have a HDD docking station for getting quick access to 2.5” or 3.5” drives. Inside, we can house long graphics cards – up to 13” in length and big CPU coolers – up to 177mm in height."

David Mitchelson - Vortez

Thermaltake Overseer RX-I chassis review by Vortez - Introduction & Conclusion.

Perhaps you like to watch? (go on.... admit it!)

Lian Li Lancool PC-K57 review on OverclockersOnline

"The Lancool PC-K57 has a lot of good features going for it. Right from the beginning the bold bezel representing some old school knight armour is very hard to miss. If you want to stand out, that’s definitely one way to do it. However, inside the case is just as impressive as the outside. You don’t need any tools to install your components, forget just tool-less hard drive or expansion slot. The PC-K57 gives you tool-less motherboard and power supply installation!"

Simon - OverclockersOnline

Lian Li's Lancool PC-K57 chassis review by OverclockersOnline - Introduction & Conclusion.

Youngpro with the mad G.Skill clocks - AGAIN!

Youngpro gets some nice G.Skill overclocks on the OCAU forums.

There will be no prizes given for guessing the brand of fan in the pics....

Big Ups Youngpro!

RealWorld Labs take a look at the Thermaltake V9 BlacX chassis

"With the V9 BlacX PC Case Thermaltake has introduced yet another great product in the midi tower segment of the market right after the excellent MK-1 we reviewed a few months back. Unlike the MK-1 however which is considered a step above the R&D team over at Thermaltake decided to focus more in a good balance between price and features than appearance and although quite good looking the really strong points of the V9 BlacX is the dual HDD docking station, the complete tool-less design (even for all the drives) and the USB 3.0 connectivity. The 4 perforated sections found on both side panels are also a nice addition which should help to further increase airflow inside the case but at the cost of extra dust which means more time spend cleaning the interior (doesn't really take that much time). Finally the 230mm top exhaust fan is something we rarely see with midi tower cases (due to its size) and is certain to keep the temperatures of the spacious interior into a minimum."

Nik Kastrantas- RWLabs

Thermaltake V9 BlacX chassis review by RWLabs - Introduction & Conclusion.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Now Available - Gunnar Digital Performance Eyewear

Chances are, you're spending more and more time looking at a computer screen, a PDA and wide range of other digital devices from your iPad to your Blackberry. All of these devices can put a significant strain on your eyes.

Gunnar Digital Performance Eyewear is proven to reduce the symptoms of Digital Eye Fatigue by minimising eyestrain and visual stress caused by a computer, PDA or video game usage.

* Wrap design limits air flow, creating high humidity to lubricate your eyes.
* Signature tints filter out harsh fluorescent light.
* Anti reflective coating reduces reflections.
* Lightweight and ergonomic for all day use.
* Slight magnification built into the lenses.
* Incorporates Carl Zeiss Vision's cutting edge customised lens technology.

Gunnar Benefits:

* Minimises dry, itchy eyes.
* Relaxes ocular muscle and decreases eyestrain.
* Enhances contrast for sharper, clearer vision and reduces glare.
* Increases visual endurance and productivity.

Gunnar Results:

Consumers were interviewed before and after using Gunnar Performance Eyewear and provided the following results:

* 100% reported improved ease of viewing.
* 96% reported reduction in eyestrain.
* 90% would recommend the use of Gunnar Digital Performance Eyewear.
* 80% reported their eyes were less tired when wearing Gunnars.
* 79% said that wearing Gunnar eyewear increased their productivity.

Gunnar - Get the visual advantage that meets the demands of your digital lifestyle.

Check out the brand new range of Gunnar Digital Performance Eyewear today!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Mittoni Vic warehouse now open in Mulgrave!

Our new base of operations in Victoria:

Mittoni Pty Ltd
Units 5&6
677 Springvale Road
Mulgrave Vic 3170

Telephone 1300 200 000 (Unchanged)
Facsimile 1300 201 000 (Unchanged)


Be sure to come check out the new digs!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

We're moving in Melbourne this weekend! (Sydney location unchanged).

Just a quick heads up FYI. Mittoni is moving in Victoria to a new, much larger warehouse in Mulgrave - just up the road from our current location in Springvale!

Mittoni Pty Ltd
Units 5&6
677 Springvale Road
Mulgrave Vic 3170


Telephone 1300 200 000 (Unchanged).
Facsimile 1300 201 000 (Unchanged).

Last day at Springvale: Friday 4th November 2011
First day at Mulgrave: Monday 7th November 2011

Friday, October 21, 2011

Thermaltake Toughpower 1350w PSU review by OverclockersClub

"The Thermaltake Toughpower 1350W power supply performed very well throughout testing. The voltage regulation is excellent and in combination with satisfactory DC noise levels means good quality DC from zero to full load. It's claimed 80 Plus Silver certification is backed up by a good set of results following the OCC power supply testing methodology that gets as close if not closer than other power supplies in this class."

paulktreg - OverclockersClub

Thermaltake Toughpower 1350w PSU review by OverclockersClub - Introduction & Conclusion.

EverythingUSB examines the Logitech C910 HD Pro webcam

"The Logitech C910 HD Pro Webcam marks an important milestone where Logitech has finally cast off the child-like playfulness of their QuickCam heritage with a new industrial design that seems less like a toy and more like a piece of professional equipment. The shiny, round and ecceltric elements of the previous webcam generation have been traded in for a flat, minimalist profile that feels more at home atop modern LCD screens. The camera lens sits straight in the middle, surrounded by a set of blue activity LEDs and dual microphones. It's this symmetry that truly makes the C910 appear classy."

R. Scott Clark - EverythingUSB

Read the full commentary on the Logitech C910 HD Pro webcam.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Noctua NH-C14 Multi Socket CPU Cooler Review On FrostyTech

"As Frostytech saw with the similiarly paced Noctua NH-D14 heatsink, the Noctua NH-C14 is a big performance cooler that offers excellent cooling for thermal loads up to 150W with relatively little noise output.

If your computer can accommodate the large size of this heatsink (with both fans, or one), you'll be pleased with it. The attention to build quality, the ease of installation, the effort to reduce vibration and noises; it's all there in this well designed thermal solution that offers up excellent thermal performance."

M. Page - FrostyTech

Noctua NH-C14 CPU cooler review by FrostyTech - Introduction & Conclusion.

* Please also note the mentioned NH-C14 fan support bar is also available and in stock, should you want it.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Logitech Couch Mouse M515 On TechReviewSource

"The Logitech Couch Mouse M515 does support both PC and Mac, however, without the software and was setup on both platforms by just plugging the receiver into an open USB port. Installation of the default drivers takes only a few seconds and you're ready to go.

Since this mouse is marketed as a "couch mouse", we thought it was apt to give it a test run on a few fabric surfaces. We tried a few couches, a bed and carpet with complete success. It actually surprised us quite a bit when it was able to work on all these surfaces that the majority of other mice wouldn't been unable to track movement. The M515 even worked flawlessly on carpet with a very rough-contoured surface."

TechReviewSource

Read the full Logitech Couch Mouse M515 review by TechReviewSource here.

G.Skill RipjawsX DDR3-1866 memory kits on Eteknix

"The bottom line is that we can’t fault this particular set of modules, as they offer an extreme look, extreme performance but a value price tag and who can really grumble at that? Having the close neck performance to 2133MHz kits and having some headroom for overclocking shows that G.Skill are still as good as ever and will continue to be as they slowly take the market by storm."

Andy Ruffell - Eteknix

Read the full G.Skill RipJawsX DDR3-1866 memory kits review by Eteknix here.

G.Skill RipjawsX 8GB F3-17000CL9D-8GBXM Memory Kit Review On Bjorn3D

"The RipjawsX memory modules have awesome looking heatspreaders which will be a great addition to any modder's or gamer's rig. That being said the 2133MHz frequency allows for a marked increase in performance and even an improvement in latency, which means that even if just in a workstation system the efficiency will be improved which will net better performance. We know that most workstations are not looking for high performance memory but all in all, they perform very well and with the XMP compatibility, this kit is very user-friendly.

The heatspreader quality is good, has an excellent look and the blue color should fit many designs. The thermal application of the heatspreader is very impressive, as we have seen many other kits which had poor contact with the IC's.

Overall, with the price point these modules ask, they perform very well and offer some nice style. These can be recommended for any gamer or enthusiast looking for a memory upgrade. With the dropping price of modules these days, and renowned G.Skill quality, these modules are hard to pass up. Anyone looking to build a Sandy Bridge system or even just a memory upgrade these are worth a look."

Shannon Robb - Bjorn3D

G.Skill 8Gb DDR3 RipJawsX F3-17000CL9D-8GBXM memory kit review by Bjorn3D - Introduction & Conclusion.

Never under estimate the importance of your packaging....

"Many online retailers underestimate the customer thrill of opening a purchase, but Shoes of Prey have this marketing and branding opportunity all wrapped up!"

Michael Fox - PowerRetail

Read the report on the under estimated importance of packaging in the online shopping experience.

Bridging the gap between online & in store for multichannel players

"Online retail is fast becoming a customer’s preferred shopping method. But there are limitations. Bared, a Melbourne based footwear brand, is trying to bridge the gap between in-store and online by allowing customers to book a Skype appointment to help them shop."

Natasha Sholl - PowerRetail

Read the report on leveraging technology to provide an 'in store' experience for online shoppers.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Battlefield 3: Desktop PC Gaming Platform Recharged

"It’s not just game-connected sales that will make the Battlefield 3 launch a truly important event, it's that desktop PCs have been growing less important for so long now that component manufacturers are desperately looking for profitable reasons to continue producing enthusiast hardware products. In my best Field of Dreams voice: "Make it hardware dependent, and they will buy".

Which brings us to a growing trend present in today's computer software: increased hardware dependence. Without drifting into an entirely different topic, I'll relegate this portion of my op-ed to quickly point out that software has steadily grown dependent on more memory and storage space, as well as more powerful central and graphics processors. In our own tests with the Battlefield 3 Beta, we noted how BF3 (in public beta form) consumed nearly 2GB of system memory while demanding up to 50% usage across all eight processor cores... Even despite using the most powerful video card currently available. This same trend has been seen elsewhere across the spectrum: from the latest Microsoft Windows Operating System to the everyday applications we install atop the O/S. Regardless of its classification as a video game, which tends to promote GPU dependence more than anything else, BF3 is software that places demand on every hardware component inside the computer case.

Ultimately, this means that performance-oriented computer hardware will once again be in demand, and those hardcore gamers wanting to experience Battlefield 3 with highest-quality video settings will be required to upgrade system components. It also means that desktop computer hardware, suffering diminished sales in the age of highly-capable mobile phone and game consoles, will stay relevant for just a while longer. The video card has always been the driving force in graphics quality performance, and now the CPU and RAM have become equally important at delivering the top-end experience. True performance enthusiasts refuse to wait, which also means that now SSDs could be the storage drive of choice to help speed-up game and map loading. Of course, you can't have the fastest video card, processor, and system memory, without also having the latest motherboard platform. It all comes together, and means big potential sales for the hardware industry."

Olin Coles - BenchmarkReviews

Take a few moments to read through Olin's commentary on how the New Beef has meant the rebirth of the gaming PC, a monster many have neglected whilst they've played console titles over the last couple of years.

Are you getting involved in the massive spike in PC gaming hardware sales at present? Gamers seek memory upgrades, SSDs, sound cards, cases, gaming keyboards & gaming mice, etc - RIGHT NOW, so start talking BF3 today - it'll be worth it!

Lian Li PC-Z60 chassis review on Aphnetworks

"If you are wondering what it takes to make an all aluminum chassis that is simply matchless in quality and refinement, the Lian Li PC-Z60 is a fine example of what the company stands for since 1983. Continuing their long tradition of excellence in paying excellent attention to detail in manufacturing, the Lian Li PC-Z60 once again shows us why aluminum cases are so desirable: Besides great looks, it is also extremely lightweight; making it ideal if you ever need to attend LAN parties or go anywhere with your computer.

I am also pleased with the PC-Z60's clean exterior design in classic Lian Li fashion, robust tool-free installation system that actually works, internal USB 3.0, innovative integrated cable management system, and a lockable SATA hot swap bay behind the front removable panel for maximum convenience.

The case has been an absolute pleasure to use from the time the retail box is opened, to the moment my completed system is turned on."

Jonathan Kwan - Aphnetworks

Lian Li PC-Z60 review by Aphnetworks - Introduction & Conclusion.

Friday, October 14, 2011

Have You Read The Power Retail Special Reports?

"Beginning with ‘The Analytics Imperative’, Power Retail’s Special Reports take an in-depth analytical view of important issues for online and multichannel retailers, presented as a minimum 12 page PDF."

Available reports include: 'Merchandising', 'Leveraging Marketplaces', 'Store-To-Door', 'Building Loyalty' and a whole load more. They're really well worth a read, even for the more experienced online and multichannel retailers. Take a look at Power Retail's Special Reports.

Get Some Top Ecommerce Tips From Leading Australian Retailers On PowerRetail

"Brimming with e-commerce inspiration, but not sure about the next steps? Get a little help from Cracka Wines, OzSale, Milan Direct, Ted’s Cameras and OzHut."

Neha Kale - PowerRetail

Get tips from some Aussie Ecomm industry leaders now!

The SEO eCommerce Checklist on FirstRate

"Our consulting team is often asked about what areas should be focused on when thinking about search for purchase driven or etail sites, as in today’s retail market companies really need to gain that competitive advantage. So, we’ve compiled this checklist as a foundation for what we like to call a ‘search friendly’ site."

Oakley - FirstRate

Read the full SEO eCommerce Checklist.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Three men and a Battlefield beta - Thoughts & Comments By Games.on.net

"When it comes to a game as phenomenally, site-crashingly popular as Battlefield 3, we can't stop at just one person's opinion. Hardcore FPS maniac James Pinnell, former pro-gamer turned eSports writer Alex Walker and hollering idiot Tim Colwill sat down for an exhausting round table on all things Battlefield 3, Origin and Battlelog."

Games.on.net

You can read the full Battlefield 3 beta commentary here.

If you're drooling, don't forget to check into Mittoni's extensive range of FPS orientated gear:

Gaming Keyboards.
Gamepads.
High Speed Gaming Mice.
Low Friction Mousing Surfaces (aka Mouse Pads).
FPS Impact Vests.

Got game? Get Mittoni!

Rolling The DICE & Talking BF3 @ AtomicMPC

"the PR team asked us for some feedback on the game. “I’m a PC guy, ya see,” I said, and got nods of commiseration that pretty much said we needn’t say more. Needless to say, this event, and the majority of SP/co-op events so far, have all been console-driven. Having just come off the beta (and yes, it is like coming off a drug, complete with withdrawals, depression, and mild shakes), anything less than PC perfection is a definite let-down."

David Hollingworth - AtomicMPC Online.

“anything less than PC perfection is a definite let-down” David H with the WORD!

You can read the full Battlefield 3 commentary from David here.

It's Hammer Time @ AtomicMPC!

"So there you are, thinking you’ve pretty much seen everything that a PC case can throw at you. Every variation of tool-less and tooled, motherboards flipped all over the place, fans in “how did they get that in there” configurations and more. You get a little jaded, a little “Oh – it’s just a case”. And then, you get that ray of light, that ‘Eureka!’ moment that you didn’t even know you were waiting for. In other words, you open up a case like Lian Li’s new Hammer, and it’s almost literally like a blow from that tool straight to your frontal lobes – in a good way!"

David Hollingworth - AtomicMPC Online.

You can read the full Lian Li PC-90 "The Hammer" commentary from David here.

Motor racing madness - Forza4, DiRT3, F1 2011 & the list goes on!

With recent releases of the popular titles F1 2011 and DiRT3 we have another option for the motofreaks for the Xbox - Forza4! Now available, these fantastic racing titles are immersive, enjoyable and addictive. They're the kind of games that make people want to 'go a little deeper' into the experience. Mittoni is all about immersive gaming experiences. The reason we are INTO PCS is immersive gaming experiences.... Everything else with the PC is an 'additional and under utilised feature'…..

Get into motor racing today with our line up of Playseats, the Roccaforte, G27, TrackIR & Boomchair (feel the ZROOOOM with da boom!). When you're ready for it to sound like it should, check out our Auzentech soundcards and Logitech Z906's - gorgeous big beautiful full sound!

So... Let's get some blood pumping:











Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition chassis review on BenchmarkReviews

"The Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition goes for $290 on Newegg.com. That's not always an easy pill to swallow and it resides at the top end of computer cases in terms of price. It is less than half the price of its predecessor, however. And while it may reside at the top end of cases in cost, it also resides there in terms of functionality, construction, performance, and appearance. Because of everything the Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition has to offer computing enthusiast, the price tag, in my opinion, is well worth it. Honestly, if you want a case that will keep your system cool, keep your cables in line, and look cool doing it, you need the Level 10 GT Snow Edition. This is the best case I have seen to date and it is the one I will be using until I find a worthy opponent."

Hank Tolman - BenchmarkReviews

Thermaltake Level 10 GT Snow Edition chassis review by BenchmarkReviews - Introduction & Conclusion.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Noctua NH-D14 CPU Cooler User Review On AtomicMPC

"Noctua is definitely renowned for making good coolers. The U12 and U9 are both examples of that. Noctua is also infamous for their ghastly cream and maroon fans. But the NH-D14 doesn't care that it's fans are ugly or that it's extremely big. It does what it knows best, to cool that CPU."

Contortion - AtomicMPC.

Interestingly, Contortion's main concern seemed to be the physical size of the NH-D14 CPU cooler. Noctua do understand that not everyone wants or has room for such a monster, so they designed the NH-C14 to address these concerns. Peeps are over the moon about the NH-D14's performance, however it's little brother, the NH-C14 is far more widely compatible with chassis and - here's the low down - it performs almost on par with the Austrian Sandwich. Here's a quick reminder from Overclockers Australia where they have compared the NH-C14, the NH-D14 and some other contenders:

"Noctua's NH-C14 proves to be a versatile solution for those who upgrade their case regularly and don't want to be stuck with a ginormous cooler limiting their upgrade paths, or just prefer to choose a cooling solution that is able to take a lot of CPU heat while maintaining low noise levels in a HTPC desktop or tower case configuration. While its single fin array is half of what the big brother NH-D14 sports, it was able to keep up with it during our tests surprisingly well, considering the lower surface area."

DiGiTaL MoNkEY - OCAU.

You can read the Noctua NH-D14 review on AtomicMPC here and the Noctua NH-C14 review from OCAU here.

12 HDD RAID Enclosure from..... Lego?

We recently featured an unusual use for a CPU cooler - model railway builds. Here is another 'left field' example of technology at play - using Lego to build a 12 drive RAID enclosure.

Damn..... I've been reminded so many times over the years why I shouldn't have given away all those tubs of Lego I'd collected as a kid. So many uses..... So $$$ in collectors value! So many NAS enclosures to build - guess I'll have to stick to our excellent range of storage enclosures.

Friday, October 7, 2011

Tt eSPORTS Meka mechanical keyboard reviewed by HardwareHeaven

"The first thing which concerns most people when considering a mechanical keyboard is the noise level which they can generate. In the case of the Meka G Unit we have quiet ("non clicky") keys which are no louder than the average keyboard"

Stuart Davidson - HardwareHeaven

Tt eSPORTS Meka mechanical keyboard review by HardwareHeaven - Introduction & Conclusion.

Tt eSPORTS Shock gaming headset review on TechwareLabs

"If you need a decent gaming headset and are on a budget, the Shock is for you. Bear in mind the sound quality won’t beat out your $200 Sennheiser headphones, but they will stomp the iPod stock headphones that you’ve been using into the ground. As the Tt eSPORTS Shock can be found for under $50 it represents quite a value... Overall this is a solid headset and definitely worth your money."

Chris - TechwareLabs

Tt eSPORTS Shock gaming headset review by BenchmarkReviews - Introduction & Conclusion.

Battlefield 3 system build guide on PCPerspective

"Let's be honest - if you aren't gaming on your PC you are probably working to save money so you can game on your PC. For you, not having the latest hardware isn't really an option it is just something ingrained in your psyche and MUST BE DONE."

Ryan Shrout - PC Perspective

Read the full article.

Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I budget mid tower examined by BenchmarkReviews

"The Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I is a cheap case with lot's of potential. It is minimal in all the right areas and for that reason it has won me over. I was sceptical of this cases potential when I first got it and have a little look around it, it wasn't until I installed some hardware into it that I realised it wasn't such a low end case after all. There aren't many sub €60 cases that have a 2.5" SSD mount and support for watercooling"

Steven Iglesias-Hearst - BenchmarkReviews

Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I budget mid tower chassis review by BenchmarkReviews - Introduction & Conclusion.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Thermaltake CPU coolers are awesome....But for model railways????

I’ve seen some odd uses for our products over the years – often utilised in ways I’d have never expected. Today, we are reminded of the old saying "great CPU coolers never die, they're just put to different uses" (no really, I use that saying daily...) in the below image - a Thermaltake Big Typhoon being used in the construction of a model railway.....


Read the full railway construction diary. Do remember, when you're building your next layout to ensure you have some Thermaltake coolers on hand - looks like they're essential to any good railway build!

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Thermaltake Armor A30 SFF chassis review on BigBruin

"If you are looking for a small form factor case to take to LAN parties or just to save space, the Thermaltake Armor A30 is a great option. It has the features that are needed in an enthusiast level case, including a USB 3.0 port, SSD support, room for multiple hard drives, a removable motherboard tray, and even support for long video cards. On the surface, all the features in the Armor A30 make for an impressive Micro-ATX case. Being a small case, an initial concern would be temperatures, however the large 230mm fan, dual 60mm exhaust fans and the 90mm intake fan provide plenty of cooling."

Steven Kean - BigBruin

Thermaltake Armor A30 SFF chassis review by BigBruin - Introduction & Conclusion.

AtomicMPC say F1 2011 is 'most definitely a sim'

"Whether you’re into Formula 1 or not, if you like racing you’ll want to know up front if this is a ‘game’ or a ‘sim’. Because, ultimately, it all boils down to how the cars handle, how they feel. In terms of the car physics, this is most definitely a sim. In this respect it is an entirely new game, when compared to F1 2010. Driving and racing is exhilarating, challenging yet satisfying, and very addictive. The cars now exhibit real physics and straight off the bat you’ll feel at ease in the cockpit knowing that your inputs and reactions deliver a response that fits, makes sense, and lets you know that the headroom –and there’s plenty of that – is in getting good at real driving, rather than mastering a hit and miss developer’s model of driving."

Ben Mansill - AtomicMPC

Read the full article. Mittoni has both Playseats and G27s in stock to support this important racing title release - get into them!

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Can my PC handle Battlefield 3?

There is a real buzz about Battlefield 3 at present. Not surprising considering we're expecting a return to the BF2 style gameplay, rather than the Bad Company gameplay we've experience of late. Designed for the PC (w00t) the new title pushes the envelope on what I'd call 'immersive environmental graphics' - check out the video below:


The question is - can my PC handle the new game? If you're wondering about this exact subject, let Nvidia tell ya!

When you're upgrading to play, consider the following:

Increase your RAM.
Change to SSD.
Cool that new CPU.
Gut it and start again.

Neha Kale from PowerRetail talks to John Winning from Appliances Online - How to blitz online retail!

“Our aim is to impress every customer. Even though we are an online retailer, our model is one that builds old-fashioned customer service into every aspect of the shopping experience. We listen to customer feedback and offer things such as free delivery, phone service available 16 hours a day, seven days a week, next day delivery to most metropolitan areas, and 360 degree camera imaging technology. Being online doesn’t mean you don’t have to deal with our customers, in fact we want to create loyal relationships that last into the next generation”

John Winning - Appliances Online

Read the full article.

Logitech Z305 speakers for laptops and notebooks review on TechReaction

"For built-in laptop speaker replacements, the Z305 are like night-and-day when compared to using our laptop speakers during our testing. Once you get past the fact that these are not expensive home theater speakers or movie theater quality speakers, you will quickly become a fan of the Z305. They did not sound cheap, nor did they struggle in our testing any more than we expected. The claims of 360-degree listening experience made us a believer, and we must admit, at first we were pretty skeptical. For USB-powered speakers, the Z305 are among the best we’ve ever tested here at TechREACTION.net."

The Duke - TechReaction

Logitech Z305 laptop/notebook speaker review by TechReaction - Introduction & Conclusion.

TrackIR support now available for RailWorks2 Train Simulator!


Featuring automatic detecting and support for NaturalPoint's TrackIR 4 & 5 in RW2's Cab, HeadOut & Passenger Views - another great reason to get into TrackIR sales! Get the unofficial update for TrackIR for Railworks2.

Lian Li Lancool PC-K9WX mid tower chassis review on TechReaction

"Overall, the Lancool PC-K9WX was a great case to work with while building our test system. With the sleek stylish black brushed aluminum outside, this case is definitely easy on the eyes, even though it doesn’t feature any eye-catching decorative touches. The USB 3.0 connections are great to see as more and more peripherals are becoming USB 3.0 capable. Wire management was good with the case... Installation of all our hardware was easy with the tool-free nature of the PC-K9WX. Everything felt secure, especially the PCI cards with the great locking mechanism used. The anti-vibration rubber pads used were an added bonus for keeping the case as silent as possible by controlling the rattling the hard drives may produce. With the removable HDD cage, you can fit any GPU on the market inside this case, which is great news. You will also be able to install an Nvidia 590 without removing the cage, as you could see in our installation pictures. The synthetic dust filters installed on the PC-K9WX really help it stand out as a top-notch mid-tower in today’s marketplace."

The Duke - TechReaction

Lian Li Lancool PC-K9WX chassis review by TechReaction - Introduction & Conclusion.

Take on Helicopters to support TrackIR 6DOF!

"Bohemia Interactive announced, in cooperation with NaturalPoint, that its brand new helicopter game Take on Helicopters which immerses players within beautifully rich landscapes and an authentic helicopter experience, will include technology supporting the revolutionary controller TrackIR."

GDN

Read the press release. Take a look at our NaturalPoint TrackIR range.

Check out the videos:

Take on Helicopters:






Introduction To TrackIR:

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Train Simulator 2012 released on 23rd Sept

The latest version of Railworks, now known as Train Simulator, has just been released. Featuring detailed driveable routes from the UK, US and Germany along with new graphics highlights such as rain and lighting effects this title is sure to please rail fans country wide!


Hmmmm... We have yokes, pedals and joysticks for flight sims. We have racing wheels for motor sports sims. If you think we don't have anything for rail simulation titles - you'd be wrong! The vast majority of the cab controls in both steam and diesel locomotives are levers - and that’s exactly what the Ch Products Quad Throttle does. Aside from the obvious throttle controls, use another lever for brake pipe pressure, sanding, etc. You'll find using the Quad Throttle for rail sims is a fantastic way of immersing yourself deeply into the title. With a number of incredibly popular rail sim titles currently available including the Aussie developed Trainz 2012 and the new Train Simulator 2012, there’s never been a better opportunity to break into this dedicated, yet surprisingly large, gaming community.

Video gamers make breakthrough scientific discovery

"When someone whines that your playing video games is a waste of time, tell them you’re doing it for science. Researchers at the University of Washington have successfully leveraged the power of gamers to solve a biochemical puzzle: the structure of a complex protein related to the development of AIDS. By playing an online game called Foldit, teams of average citizens were able to make a breakthrough discovery in how this protein was shaped even though scientists had stumbled over the question for more than a decade."

Aaron Saenz - SingularityHub

Read the full article.

Boeing delivers the first 787 aircraft to All Nippon Airways

"Dressed in specially designed All Nippon Airways (9202.T) livery, with a big, bold, blue "787" splashed at its fore, Boeing Co's (BA.N) Dreamliner will fly from its Seattle birthplace to Tokyo on Tuesday, and, just over a month later, begin active service for the Japanese carrier."

Peter Myers - Reuters

Read the full article. Captain's Pack anyone?

Monday, September 26, 2011

Supercomputer sifts through news items and predicts revolutions...

I'm not sure if this should be filed under scary or cool?

"A new type of software has been shown to predict revolutions by mining news reports around the world. Retrospectively mining the news for the past 30 years the software indicates points at which the likelihood for a revolution is high. When put to the test – bingo! – the software showed spikes just before the recent Egyptian and Libyan upheavals. It was also able to sift through world news to retrospectively pinpoint Osama Bin Ladin’s location to within 200 km. In the emerging science of ‘culturomics’ that tracks cultural trends through the written word, the software was the first to demonstrate that news coverage can be used to predict future events."

Peter Murray - SingularityHub

Read the full article.

Tt eSPORTS Meka G1 keyboard review on HardwareHeaven

"the Meka G1 does not come with fancy macro controls or flashy illumination options, that's not what the Meka G1 is about. What Tt eSPORTS have done is stripped back all this and created a very high quality product with some standout features. The finish on the Meka G1 is to a very high quality. The matt black is highlighted nicely with the red Tt logo and the use of the Military grade steel woven USB cable is a very impressive feature. We haven't seen this level of durability provided on many peripherals before. The quality continues when we look at the switches used. Cherry Black mechanical switches offer a lifespan of 50 million keystrokes, more than enough for even the most hard-core gamer. These keys also make the Meka a very nice board to type and game on"

Stuart Kerley - HardwareHeaven

Tt eSPORTS Meka G1 keyboard review by HardwareHeaven - Introduction & Conclusion.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Sim Racing - Now It FEELS real - Let's Make It SOUND real!

There is one thing I love about motor racing - and Formula1 in particular. The sound! No point having the immersion of TrackIR and the G27, coupled with a Playseat or Roccaforte and a big monitor or TV to play on - without that inner ear shattering scream of tires and engines... or the thump as you hit the barrier or the tearing sound as you rip panels off another race vehicle in a collision. Well, rest assured - Mittoni has you covered there as well!

Choose from our excellent range of audio peripherals including:

Auzentech sound cards. Get real - Get Auzen!
Logitech 5.1 surround sound speakers. NOT your neighbours friend!
Surround sound & force feedback headsets. Double your whammy!

Live it. Love it. Just give us a turn too!

Sim Racing - Increase your situational awareness with TrackIR

Experience real time three dimensional view control in computer games and simulations just by moving your head! NaturalPoint's TrackIR takes your favourite games to astonishing new levels of realism and immersion. As you move in your chair and rotate your head small amounts your game view will instantly correspond. You'll never have to look away from your monitor because all aspects of your motion are amplified and the required amount of physical movement is totally user configurable.

The TrackIR pack contains a small wide angle infra red camera and a reflector clip which mounts on to the brim of a baseball style cap. The camera detects light reflected from the hat clip and tracks the movement of the reflections in order to provide precise input to programs that support axis based controls. In short, TrackIR turns your head movements into in game movements.

NaturalPoint's TrackIR series of head tracking devices is widely compatible with all the leading racing simulation titles. Check the full list of compatible racing titles. The Codemasters F1 2010/2011 games will be detected as a DiRT title - but works 100% in full 6DOF!

Take a look at our NaturalPoint TrackIR range. If you have simulation gaming customers - this is a MUST HAVE product for them.

Sim Racing & Flying - Meet the MILSPEC CH Racer pack!

So, you want to play F1 2011 tomorrow and the replacement for Flight Simulator, called Microsoft Flight in early 2012? Here is the ideal solution!

You play flight sims. You play racing sims. You're a simming fanatic and you want the best - but you don't have the desk space for separate flight yoke and racing wheel.

That's where CH Racer steps in! Combining the best features of the most respected Flight Yoke in existence with the features of a racing wheel and you have the Eclipse Yoke from CH.

Combine the latest and greatest controller from CH Products with the renown Pro Pedals and you're set for any meeting - whether on the race track, or in the air!

Take a closer look at the CH Racer Pack For PC & Mac or take a look at our extensive CH Products range. Go MILSPEC - Go HARD!

Sim Racing - Force Feeback Logitech G27 Wheel

Trying to play a racing sim title without a wheel is very much like trying to play a flight sim title without a joystick. It can be done.... Sure. But it's neither fun, nor intuitive, nor realistic is it? It leaves you with that feeling of 'great game, but I’m not really into it'. NOT COOL!

When you're ready to step up, Mittoni has got you covered with the superb Logitech G27 racing wheel. This leading and beloved solution is the tool of choice for most serious sim racers worldwide. It’s compatible with both PC and Playstation too, so you get the best of both worlds game title releases - BONUS! The wide platform compatibility for the G27 also makes it the perfect choice for resellers looking to sell into both the console and PC markets. You'll double your chance of a sale with the G27!

The G27 Racing Wheel has a dual motor force feedback mechanism with helical gearing allows you to experience traction loss, weight shift, and a smoother and more accurate road feel, while enjoying the exceptionally quiet steering action. The RPM/shift indicator LEDs keep lets you know just when to shift gears for maximum torque (in supported games). There are sixteen programmable buttons plus D-pad which you can map with useful game functions in locations that make sense to you — whether on the wheel itself or on the shift module.

Take a closer look at the Logitech G27 Racing Wheel For PC & Playstation.

Sim Racing - Roccaforte - The ultimate cockpit & work station!

Perhaps you're looking for a cockpit for simulation games..... But you only have room for a desk? NO PROBS! Enter the Roccaforte....

The Roccaforte is a multi purpose table, work station, gaming desk and command centre. This desk features a load of extra mini tables, including several elevated levels for multiple monitors and stacks of peripherals. This is the workstation you've always dreamed about!

With room for multiple LCDs, speakers, printers, plotters, graphics tablets, joysticks, racing wheels or any other needed peripheral, the Roccaforte's flexible positions allow the user to create the ideal environment for maximum enjoyment of games, or to increase their working productivity and comfort level.

The desk would make a great addition to a high end PC gaming centre and is also a perfect solution for people doing video editing, sound engineering, web design or data entry. If you use multiple monitors or input peripherals for work or play, there is no better solution available! Take Command - get the Roccaforte today!

As an added bonus, the Roccaforte has free delivery to the following post-code areas:

Sydney: 2000-2229, 2231-2231, 2558-2560, 2564-2567, 2747-2750, 2753-2754, 2756-2763, 2765-2768, 2770, 2773-2774, 2776-2780, 2782-2785. Canberra: 2600-2620, 2900-2914. Melbourne: 3000-3058, 3060-3062, 3064-3088, 3093-3095, 3101-3108, 3110-3111, 3116-3128, 3130-3138, 3140-3156, 3161-3186, 3188-3207, 3802-3806, 3975-3977. Brisbane: 4000-4022, 4029-4054, 4059-4069, 4072-4078, 4101-4123, 4127-4129, 4131-4155, 4157-4164, 4169-4179, 4205, 4209-4230, 4300-4305, 4350, 4500-4506, 4508-4510, 4551, 4556-4558, 4560, 4564-4567, 4572-4573, 4575. Gold Coast: 4211 - 4229. Perth: 6000-6032, 6050-6082, 6090-6122, 6147-6160, 6162-6171. Adelaide: 5000, 5001, 5006-5025, 5031-5035, 5037-5052, 5061-5070, 5072-5076, 5081-5098, 5106-5109, 5112-5115, 5125-5127, 5158-5166, 5168, 5950. Hobart: 7000-7109.

If you’re a “no quotes, give me guaranteed freight” reseller note that one trick, to avoid freight complications with the Roccas, is you can list them as available for delivery to ONLY the above areas (free freight zones). That way freight will never be an issue for your orders. This way, even if you normally only deal with satchel freight items - you still have plenty of opportunities to gain Roccaforte sales.

Take a closer look at the Roccaforte gaming desk and work station.

Sim Racing - The Playseat Series Of Cockpits

"The Playseats racing simulation cockpit lets you THRILL to the same experience that real life racing drivers feel behind the wheel.

Discover why professional videogamers know there’s nothing like the feeling you get when you bolt a feedback wheel to your game seat. Experience the rock solid feeling of steering, accelerating and braking without the hassle of a slippery pedal or the disappointment of a cheap trembling wheel attached to your desk.

Now it’s easy and fun to drive your own Formula 1, DTM or WRC in your own home, in front of your TV or computer, and feel like you’re in the middle of the action on your favourite track! Measure your own performance against the computer or your friends, or kick it up a notch and race online against other drivers anywhere in the world.

The Playseats game chair is compatible with all digital driving wheels ranging from Logitech, Fanatec and all leading racing wheel manufacturers. Talk about compatible! The Playseats game chair works right out of the box with your PS3, PS2, Xbox and Xbox 360, PC, or Wii."

There is no more effective solution available to Australian racing simulation gamers than the Playseat series. Combining the telescopic feature ensuring they suit drivers of all heights, an excellent folding design for easy storage when not in use and an attractive styling so you never really WANT to put it away - it'll enhance your lounge room, perhaps even becoming your centre piece!

Would you like to know more? Take a closer look at our extensive & inexpensive Playseat range.

Sim Racing - F1 2011 on Friday 23rd - Gentlemen... Start your Playseats!

The new version of the brilliant Formula1 game franchise, F1 2011, is released world wide on Friday 23rd Sept (this week) for PC, Playstation & Xbox. We know our gaming gear skyrockets in sales with each major corresponding game launch. This will be no exception! So, if you have previously not offered our racing simulation products, be sure to do so ASAP! Take a look at the other articles in today’s newsletter to gain the track knowledge you'll need to dominate this busy season’s sim racing sales. We have many products that the top 10 motor racing drivers use for both training and enjoyment themselves - so take yer eyes off the promo girls and put em back on the prize!

"F1 2011 is the sequel to the BAFTA winning FORMULA ONE videogame from Codemasters, the developer and publisher of award winning racing games. Developed under Codemasters’ exclusive worldwide agreement with Formula One World Championship Limited, F1 2011 will come complete with all the official drivers, teams and circuits featuring in the 2011 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

With a new focus on multiplayer gaming, including coop Championships and split screen mode, F1 2011 will invite players to ‘Be The Driver, Live the Life, Go Compete’ with a range of innovations, improvements and enhancements on and off the track. Set to be the most enthralling season yet, the 2011 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP features two new circuits in India and Germany, new drivers, rules, tyres as Sebastian Vettel seeks to defend his title."

Lian Li PC-90 aka "THE HAMMER" review on Techpowerup

"Overall this chassis is excellent, not only for the HPTX crowd, as "The Hammer" can easily take any other major mainboard size and still shine. In the end the Lian Li PC-90 is an excellent case, with plenty of expansion room in addition to being the most affordable Aluminum HPTX chassis on the market right now - a no brainer really. If you are in the market for a case that takes these boards, but want to steer clear of the monsters usually offered, the PC-90 is not only the one choice you have, but also an excellent one."

Darksaber - TechPowerUp

Lian Li PC-90 The Hammer chassis review by Techpowerup - Introduction & Conclusion.

Logitech Z906 speaker review on TechAU

"In amongst all the explosions, gunfire, cussing and background noise I was still able to hear a surprising amount of detail. The sound was crisp, perky and above all else definitely miles ahead of things I’d heard on TV and through my old speaker system. Secondly I fired up a copy of Avatar, perhaps one of the most visually impressive films of all time that also features an impressive audio mix. Distant animal cries, ambient sounds and other things poked through, things I’d never heard or detected before. Bass performance during action scenes was impressive and I felt it never washed or drowned out the important sounds coming from the satellites themselves. Even my housemate was astounded by the quality of the sound, at one point commenting it actually sounded like my room was a rainforest. It sounds zany, but this compact system is one of the best cost to performance systems on the market. The Z906 is impressive, to say the least."

Bryce Wilson - TechAU

Logitech Z906 review by TechAU - Full Article.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Philosopher Neal Stephenson discusses the future of cyberspace - Porn? Shopping? Social Networks? Noooooo friends.

"What I didn’t anticipate, what actually came along to drive down the cost of 3D graphics hardware, was games. And so the virtual reality that we all talked about and that we all imagined 20 years ago didn’t happen in the way that we predicted. It happened instead in the form of video games."

Neal Stephenson - Interview on Forbes

Read the full interview with Neal Stephenson on Forbes.

OCAU take a look at HDMI cables from inexpensive to very expensive - any difference?

"There is no significant difference between our cheapest (and cheapest looking - with non gold plated connector) bundled Toshiba HDMI cable, and the most expensive (and coolest looking - it's freaking purple, with shiny ends and cool looking screws in the connector- check it out!) Audio Dimension 5m HDMI cable."

Zee - OCAU

Zee from the OCAU forums looks into HDMI cable performance with a range of price levels - forum thread. Great news for our inexpensive, yet extremely popular, Wicked Wired HDMI cable range!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Thermaltake V4 Black Edition (450w) review on Scewre

"This is a desirable case for a gamer that doesn’t need a huge case, but one that can fit all of their hardware that can be cooled more than adequately while maintaining a stylish look. At a price of only $39.99 depending on where you can find it, it’s almost a steal with such features that you wouldn’t even find on pricier cases."

Scewre

You can read the full V4 Black Edition Scewre review here.

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition (450w) reviews

"All in all, this case is not a bad case at all. It stood right with the competition in three out of four of the tests. Not only that, but compared to the similarly priced NZXT Gamma, the V3 sported more features - including an external 3.5" bay, rear LED fan, and the small window on the side panel."

Compxpert - OverclockersClub

"Thermaltake V3 Black Edition is an excellent case if you consider its price tag. It brings an excellent cost/benefit ratio for users looking for a good yet inexpensive computer case."

Rafael Otto Coelho - HardwareSecrets

Perhaps you're more of a video review person?



You can read the full V3 Black Edition OverclockersClub review here and the HardwareSecrets review here.

Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I (w/500w) mid tower chassis now available!

The Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I mid tower chassis with 500w PSU enters service today. It joins an established line up of stellar performers such as the V3 & V4 Black Editions with 450w PSU, V9 BlacX, the Chaser MK-I, Overseer RX-I and the Level 10 GT. If it pushes a boundary - you can bet it's Thermaltake! So….. What boundary are Tt pushing today?

It's an important boundary, one we all consider as consumers and one that Thermaltake is both recognised and applauded for pushing. It's the reason Thermaltake cases, in particular, are the most highly sought after chassis around. It's known as bang for buck, it's known as getting your moneys worth and it's also known as a bloody good deal!

What do you get with a Thermaltake chassis which you don't get with most other brands offerings? You get more features than you're paying for. A lot more features than you're paying for, at least in comparison to similarly priced offerings from Thermaltake's numerous imitators and competitors.

Lets take the new Spacecraft VF-I as an example. Compare the following feature highlight points with your current chassis offerings:

* 500w power supply with all the connectors you need for your system builds.
* Its got USB3. That’s important, its a consumer confidence thing.
* Its all black! Sexeh black on the inside too!
* Its got a window. No point being sexeh black on the inside if no one can see it!
* Takes a full sized ATX motherboard, not just MicroATX!
* Aluminium front bezel & overall chassis styling creates an esports swagger.
* Supports up to 7 fans, so you can create your own multi vortex hurricane!
* Supports long graphic cards inc AMD Radeon HD6990 & nVidia GTX590.
* Internal mounting positions for both 2.5" & 3.5" drives.
* Supports high performance 240mm water cooling radiator.
* Supports large after market CPU coolers like the FrioOCK & Jing.

With a feature highlight set of this magnitude and such a reasonable reseller price, if we weren't in space - you could hear our competitors scream!

Thermaltake - Leave No Feature Behind!

TechReport reconsider traditional benchmarking of GPU performance

"I suppose it all started with a brief conversation. Last fall, I was having dinner with Ramsom Koay, the PR rep from Thermaltake. He's an inquisitive guy, and he wanted to know the answer to what seemed like a simple question: why does anyone need a faster video card, so long as a relatively cheap one will produce 30 frames per second? And what's the deal with more FPS, anyway? Who needs it?

I'm ostensibly the expert in such things, but honestly, I wasn't prepared for such a question right at that moment. Caught off guard, I took a second to think it through and gave my best answer. I think it was a good one, as these things go, with some talk about avoiding slowdowns and maintaining a consistent illusion of motion. But I realized something jarring as I was giving it—that the results we provide our readers in our video card reviews don't really address the issues I'd just identified very well.

That thought stuck with me and began, slowly, to grow. I was too busy to do much about it as the review season cranked up, but I did make one simple adjustment to my testing procedures: ticking the checkbox in Fraps—the utility we use to record in-game frame rates—that tells it to log individual frame times to disk. In every video card review that followed, I quietly collected data on how long each frame took to render.

Finally, last week, at the end of a quiet summer, I was able to take some time to slice and dice all of the data I'd collected. What the data showed proved to be really quite enlightening—and perhaps a bit scary, since it threatens to upend some of our conclusions in past reviews. Still, I think the results are very much worth sharing. In fact, they may change the way you think about video game benchmarking."

Techreport reconsider traditional GPU Frames Per Second benchmarking.

Brick & mortar multichannel FTW says Swinburne Uni

"New findings show that Australians purchase online more frequently than customers in other countries, spending on average $206 a month. They are also avid window-shoppers, who increasingly conduct their research online but still buy from bricks and mortar retailers.... Multi-channel would seem the way to go both in terms of providing consumer information to assist shoppers in their purchases and then providing the means for shopper to easily purchase either on or offline. Good up-to-date information on in-store inventory and the ability to order goods not in stock would also seem to be important"

Neha Kale - PowerRetail

Read the Full Article.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I mid tower with 500w PSU now available!

Explore endless possibilities into the cyberspace

The new Thermaltake Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis embodies the unique design for eSports look and feel, that encourage space addicts to explore cyberspace with endless possibility, together with an external USB 3.0 connection, the water cooling support for internal 240mm radiator; it is designed especially for Micro-ATX and ATX motherboards, also it now benefits from the impressive ventilation performance of the “HDD” , “CPU “ and “VGA” Air Cooling Systems. In terms of the unique mechanical design and enhanced thermal system of the Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis, it is a great alternative for DIY users of all levels. Allowing for flexibility, easy maintenance and upgradeable possibilities, the advanced features make the new Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis be an accessible e-Sports chassis in the market.

Maximum Expansion Possibilities and Aluminium front bezel

Thermaltake devoted to create an exciting and fascinating user experience and a more personalized lifestyle for the users and gamers. The design concept of the Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis can be breakdown into “Space” and “Craft.” As “space” is the major concern when it comes to what could be equipped in a chassis, the Thermaltake spaced the interior of Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis to facilitate the installation of all mirco-ATX and ATX with the ability to attach one of our prime CPU cooler the Frio OCK for maximum expansion possibilities. It will also supports the most advance AMD & NVIDIA® graphic cards up to 12.5” long (i.e. nVidia GTX 590 & AMD HD6990). Moreover, Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis provides massive storage capability with 4 x 5.25”, 6 x 3.5” and 1 x 2.5” HDD/SSD bays. Featuring the intelligent layout and engineered interior, Thermaltake also crafted the exterior together with an aluminium front bezel and explicit aerodynamic design which conditioned the Spacecraft VF-I the capability to proceed through and be recognized in the dark-space with a distinctive space style. The appealing Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis boosts the imagination of the gamers when adventuring in the fascinating games.

Excellent Ventilation and Accessibility

Thermaltake revolutionizes the PC market by create, innovate and implement the most efficient solution in its technology. The Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis supports up to 7 fans for superior airflow and maximum airflow efficiency ranging from 80mm to 120mm bearing. Utilizing the chassis’s smartly water-cooling ready design, the Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis can be easily transformed to accommodate high-efficiency 24cm radiator to increase more powerful cooling ability. The superior cooling system of the Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis symbolized the essential air element in the cyberspace, the gamers are under protection with the excellent ventilation while proceeding through space. Plus, pre-installed dust filters for fan, PSU and 5.25/3.25” drive bays which can avoid outside particles from finding its way into the power supply and chassis, also a removable and cleanable particle filter is positioned underneath the chassis, providing an easy access to keep Spacecraft VF-I clean. Furthermore, the unique tool-free and anti-vibration 5.25” and 3.5” mechanisms grant instant access and ultimate protection for Spacecraft VF-I mid-tower chassis equipments.

Further information about other great features like smart cable management, built-in Superspeed USB 3.0 and how it could support liquid cooling system is featured on Thermaltake Australia. You'll also find the Spacecraft VF-I mid tower chassis with 500w PSU now available from Mittoni.