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Filed under: Reviews, Featured Stories

The Windows One: Acer Aspire 5315

Acer's full-fledged Vista-enabled mainstream laptop may not be the fastest, sturdiest, or prettiest, but it'll certainly do when you absolutely, positively have to have Windows for less than $500.

Who it's for: Students on a budget who still need Windows-compatible software (such as PowerPoint and Word for class preparation); parents and grandparents who don't want to do much more than word-process, balance the checkbook, or surf the Web.

What we like: The huge 15.4-inch LCD screen is great for movie-watching and slideshows, and the built-in stereo speakers are surprisingly powerful (considering they're made of plastic!). Sure, it's 6.2-pounds -- more than twice as heavy as the MacBook Air -- but that's not as heavy as we expected at this price point. It has three USB ports, which is generous. The keyboard is spacious and comfortable to type on, and includes a one-touch key for wireless and battery management, and a Wi-Fi on/off button. Most other laptops in this price category don't have a DVD/CD-RW drive, so music rippers and DVD watchers will be pleased that the Acer Aspire does have one.

What we don't: With no dual-core processor (just a Celeron 450) and 1-gigabyte of DDR2, this baby can be slow to start and a bit lethargic when running several programs at once. Battery life - at just over two hours - can leave you stranded at the Internet café if you're not near a power outlet. Plus, the plastic casing feels a bit cheap.

Verdict: It does the trick for $500, but if you have an extra couple of Benjamins, go for the Aspire 4710, or any laptop with a dual-core processor.

Cost: $500 (the version we tested out was available exclusively at Wal-Mart for $470, but you can search around online for similar deals).

Best Laptops Under $500 originally appeared on Switched on Tue, 19 Feb 2008 23:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What we're watching tonight:

• CW (1080i) airs 90210 at 8 p.m. and Melrose Place at 9 p.m.
• Discovery (1080i) has Dirty Jobs at 9 p.m. and Ghost Lab at 10 p.m.
• ABC (720p) has Scrubs at 9 p.m. and the season premiere of Better Off Ted at 9:30 p.m.
• TLC (1080i) has Table for 12 at 8 p.m., 18 Kids & Counting at 9 p.m. and The Little Couple at 10 p.m.
• History (720p) has How the Earth was Made at 9 p.m.
• ESPN (720p) has Butler/Georgetown college basketball at 7 p.m. and Indiana/Pittsburgh at 9 p.m.
• Versus (1080i) has Islanders/Flyers hockey at 7 p.m.

HDTV Listings for December 8, 2009 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 16:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Okay, you've probably heard by now that Mass Effect 2 has a lot of big-name voice talent. But have you SEEN them? This video trailer for BioWare's upcoming space opera features the all-star cast talking about their roles, and what it is about sci-fi (and not SyFy) that gets them so excited.

Tricia Helfer, Martin Sheen talk up their voice roles in Mass Effect 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Real Estate

Headlines in the mainstream media are often notorious for getting it wrong. But in the case of the recent Wall Street Journal story about how renting is the "new American Dream," the questionable premise could be suggesting that the real estate market is finally approaching a bottom.

First, some historical backstory. On Aug. 13, 1979, BusinessWeek ran the now infamous headline "The Death of Equities," proclaiming that "The masses long ago switched from stocks to investments having higher yields and more protection from inflation. Now the pension funds -- the market's last hope -- have won permission to quit stocks and bonds for real estate, futures, gold, and even diamonds. The death of equities looks like an almost permanent condition -- reversible someday, but not soon."

That article marked, almost exactly, the bottom in the stock market -- and the beginning of a 20-year long bull run that would provide investors with the highest rate of return in U.S. history. In other words, the BusinessWeek piece couldn't have been more wrong, but actually offered some value as a contrarian indicator.

Continue reading Is 'default, then rent' the new American Dream - or sign of a bottom?

Is 'default, then rent' the new American Dream - or sign of a bottom? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bernie Madoff's last home may have sold strong, but it looks like the momentum is fading. His home in the Hamptons beat the listing price and ultimately moved for more than $9.4 million. Unfortunately for his victims, interest in his Manhattan penthouse and Palm Beach estate isn't as strong. The prices for both have been cut, as the Ponzi schemer moves from news to history. Both homes have been on the market for only two months.

The Manhattan home, on the Upper East Side, offers 4,000 square feet which the broker, Sotheby's International Realty, says is "perched atop a distinguished white-glove prewar cooperative." Originally offered at $9.9 million, the asking price has been slashed by $1 million. So, if you're looking for some new digs in the city, this should be perched atop your list. A 10 percent price drop after only two months in the game means that you could probably work the price down a little bit further. If you were a Madoff investor, think of it as recouping some of what was so wrongly taken from you.

The situation in Palm Beach, Florida isn't much better. The discount is only 7 percent, with the price plunging from $8.49 million to $7.9 million according to the Corcoran Group, which is handling the sale. This home is billed as "a return to classic Florida island living ... when Palm Beach was a less manicured tropical paradise." What does that mean? Does classical Florida island living have anything to do with defrauding the neighbors?

Madoff, now a resident of Butner, North Carolina, believed that the Manhattan apartment was worth only $7 million. He pegged the Palm Beach residence at $11 million.

When both properties move, the proceeds will go to Madoff's victims. Of the $65 million, roughly, that he took, $1.4 billion is said to have been recovered. Even when compared to the investor losses identified, $21.2 billion, it's but a drop in the bucket. The auction scheduled for Saturday may help a little bit, with Bernie's Mets jacket and Ruth's golf clubs going under the gavel.

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Remaining Madoff Homes Already Discounted originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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When we last talked about this on the podcast, I said we'd basically have to wait and see how it all worked, but now that players have had their hands on the Dungeon Finder out on the live realms for a while, they're learning a few more tricks and tips about how to use it. As Rohan brings up over on the WoW Ladies LJ, it's easy enough to keep a good player once you've found them through the system: as long as none of you drop group once you're done with an instance, you can go back in and run as many as you want. Unfortunately, you can't friend them yet (hopefully that will show up whenever Battle.net functionality does), but the comments on that post point out that if you both sign up for an unpopular instance at the same time, chances are good you'll end up in the same group together (of course, that requires coordination, but maybe you can set up a time out of game).

More tips and tricks for the new system after the break.

Continue reading Dungeon Finder tricks and tips

Filed under: Tips, Tricks, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Instances, Wrath of the Lich King

Dungeon Finder tricks and tips originally appeared on WoW.com on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One&Only Resorts, the luxury resort company known for its stunning properties in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, will open its second property in Dubai. One & Only The Palm will open on Palm Island in October 2010. The property is being developed by His Highness Sheikh Bin Saeed Al Makthoum (right) and Sol Kerzner, (left) CEO and Chairman of Kerzner International, parent company of One&Only Resorts.

The property will have a striking location on the peninsula of Palm Island crescent with spectacular views of new Dubai's skyline. Resort guests will be able to indulge in an exclusive island feel getaway or choose to be whisked away by the resort's private water taxis or limousine to Dubai's wide array of activities, from golf at award-winning courses to world-class shopping, dining and entertainment at the most sought-after of venues.

Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, One&Only Resorts offer a distinctive style and personality borne of its local culture. Other locations include One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas and One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico. The One&Only Cape Town, South Africa opened on April 3, 2009.

"We believe the government's continuous commitment to developing tourism in the region combined with all the destination has to offer, its constant innovation and its easy international access make this the perfect place for us to expand the One&Only portfolio," says Kerzner.

Located at The Palm Jumeirah, the resort's external architecture will blend Moorish and Andalucian influences, while the interiors will display contemporary, chic living environments, promoting a sense of understated elegance with privacy being of the utmost importance. Surrounded by lush landscaped gardens, the resort will provide an oasis of tranquility amid cosmopolitan Dubai.

Guest accommodations at this intimate resort will be composed of 35 suites and apartments within the grand Manor House, six independent low-rise mansions with eight to ten suites and exclusive two and three bedroom beachfront villas. Stunning and spacious with every modern amenity, guest rooms and suites will have a stylish modern design with an elegant palate of rich fabrics in hues of turquoise and purple. Sumptuous bathrooms will feature over-sized, freestanding bath tubs and rain showers with the finest inlaid marble from Italy and Spain.

All accommodations will offer outdoor terraces or private pool. Guests staying in suites, apartments and villas will also be indulged by a dedicated butler, 24 hours a day. The resort will also feature private cabanas by an 850 square meter pool, a private beach and a freestanding 2,400 square meters spa, fitness and beauty complex. The One&Only Spa will be set amidst outdoor gardens and will offer a fitness center featuring state-of-the-art equipment by Technogym and Kinesis studio, tennis court and a beauty salon.

The resort's Marina Restaurant will offer al fresco dining adjacent to the marina. Guests can reach the restaurant by private yacht or One&Only water taxis.

Filed under: Journeys, Real Estate Developments

One&Only Resorts to Open on Palm Island in Dubai originally appeared on Luxist on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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