| Top picks for cameras, camcorders and related equipment
Mid-range: Olympus Evolt E-510 ($650). The 10 megapixel E-510 has image stabilization, a dust removal system and 19 scene modes. A big plus is Live View, which lets users compose shots using the LCD screen (most SLR digital cameras require using the eyepiece viewfinder for shooting to conserve battery life). Uses compact flash cards, micro drives or xD cards. Includes rechargeable lithium ion battery pack. Splurge: Nikon D300 ($1,700). The high-resolution 12.3 megapixel D300 is fast on the draw, with six frames per second, and has a self-cleaning dust sensor. Exceptionally accurate 51-point scene recognition metering system quickly tracks for automatic focus, exposure and white balance. Compose pictures with the eyepiece viewfinder or the 3-inch LCD screen, a first for Nikon digital SLRs.
Olympus SP-570UZ Digital Camera Is Like DSLR, But Not Quite
When you take a look at the spec sheet of the newly revealed SP-570UZ digital camera from Olympus, you can't help but let your jaw drop. And then you drool a little. After that, you realize that it's not really a digital SLR, but it's got enough going for it that the Olympus SP-570UZ might be a perfect solution for consumers who want a little more from their picture-takers. For starters, you'll notice that this cam comes equipped with a lens that offers 20x optical zoom, totally destroying similar offerings from Canon and Sony that only do 12x optical. It's also got a 10 megapixel sensor, dual image stabilization, face detection, shadow adjustment, and perfect shot preview. Around the back, the Olympus SP-570UZ treats you to a large 2.7-inch LCD, as well as access to a series of manual controls.
Sound Advice: Pentax K20D to supplant less expensive K10D camera
Q: I have been pretty happy with my Olympus E-10. The price was right and my old Pentax cameras were starting to really show their age (my favorite one is well over 40 years old.) Now it seems that my Olympus is developing problems, and the company says it can no longer repair it. I have read that Pentax digital SLRs would work with any Pentax lens, which intrigued me as I have about eight different screw mount lenses I would love to be able to use again. I'm tempted by the newer models for the speed, as my E-10 is just not up to catching action shots. Would you recommend I buy a Pentax K10D and a screw mount lens adapter? Or would I be better off just buying a kit with two new lenses and giving my old equipment to a museum?
JEFF PORT
State College A: Nikon digital SLRs as well as Pentax digital SLRs work with older manual focus lenses, so this advice applies to both Nikon and Pentax lens owners.
Panasonic's High-Value High-Def TV
As king of the plasma TV market, Panasonic has plenty to prove these days. Faced with an onslaught of competition from the rival LCD (liquid-crystal display) camp, Panasonic executives have been working hard to dispel any claims their products are somehow inferior to the best LCD offerings. I find little reason to argue with them after reviewing the company's recently released 50PZ77U model. The 50-in. plasma offers full high-definition 1080 progressive resolution, and does an impressive all-around job of producing rich, colorful imagery from both HD and standard-definition programming. Better yet, the all-black set is one of the best deals on the market right now, selling for about $2,000 through online merchants—up to $1,000 less than many LCD sets of the same screen size and HD resolution.
PARIS, February 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Full-year 2007 financial ...
We set ourselves three operational goals at the start of 2007. First, the recovery of our Maintenance business - which this year has recorded a growth in revenues for the first time in many years. Secondly, in our Products business, we confirmed our leading position in the High-Performance Computing (HPC) market, both through our successes in sales and our acquisition of Serviware. In addition, our partnership with IBM, with whom we have already been collaborating for more than 15 years, was enhanced in the area of open UNIX(R) servers. As a result, this is one of the longest collaborative alliances in our industry. And finally, in the Services business we have continued - for a number of quarters - to record growth rates well ahead of the market, in line with our strategy. The fundamental actions we have taken to improve the profitability of this part of the business have already resulted in an improvement of almost 2 percentage points in the gross margin." Financial results for 2007 Year-on-year comparisons have been made with the figures published for the 2006 financial year, except where specifically indicated, in which case they have been made at comparable structure(1).
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