Acer are apparently aiming the Predator line at the high-street, rather than the more usual “online niche” systems which it believes intimidates and confuses new buyers. While many have prematurely dismissed the Acer as a gimmick - not least because of the eye-ache paint-job and mechanised codpiece - first-impressions seem pretty good.

For a start, out-of-the-box specs are reasonable: a minimum of 4GB DDR2-800MHz RAM, dual 640GB hard-drives and both Blu-ray and DVD-RW. All four machines - Sniper, Trooper, Crusher and Eliminator - have SLI-enabled dual graphics (topping out at a pair of GeForce 9800 GX2s in Quad SLI). There’s also a user-friendly CPU watercooling system, guaranteed for 5.7 years.

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Iomega today unveiled its newest portable hard disk drive, the 250GB Brown Leather eGo Hi-Speed USB 2.0, aimed at fashion-conscious buyers. The drive combines a 2.5-inch disk that endows it with a 250GB storage capacity and a burnished brown leather body.The newest addition to Iomega’s eGo range shares the line’s DropGuard technology that protects the drive from damage when dropped from up to 51 inches. Data security is ensured with downloadable EMC Retrospect HD software helps Windows PC users organize scheduled or on-demand backups. The eGo leather drive is compatible with Mac OS X 10.1 or higher and with Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional, XP, and Vista.

The Iomega eGo Portable Hard Drive, is currently available in select retailers and online for nearly $150.

Western Digital launches its elegant portable drive ‘My Passport Essential’ in Korea market, which is powered directly from the USB port on your PC.

Weighing only 0.1kg, it synchronizes files between home and office and encrypts everything on the drive for added security with 128-bit encryption.

This beautiful portable drive, available in eleven eye-catching colors, is light and easy to carry and fits smoothly in your hand or pocket.

Microsoft upgraded its LifeCams with the VX-5000. An unusual approach to webcams, the new add-on is unique in its use of a bendable stand; users can curve the stand to sit the camera on a desk or straighten out to varying degrees to clip to the back of different surfaces, including desktop LCDs and notebook lids. Although capped at 640×480 resolution, the camera supports panning, zooming, and tilting as well as simulated 1.3-megapixel still photos through interpolation. A one-piece microphone with active noise reduction provides mid-range audio capture for the VX-5000.
Microsoft ships the new LifeCam next month for $50 and will make it available with blue, green, and red color borders.

PC Koubou has begun to sale a couple of desktop PC including digital TV tuner and Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse in Japan. The first of two is Amphis MT760iC2D-HS — Comes with a Core 2 Duo E8400 processor, which clocked at 3GHz, GeForce 8400 GS graphics card, 2GB of RAM, 640GB of HDD, DVD super-multi burner, and pre-loaded with Windows Vista Home Premium. The price is set at ¥139,980 which include a 19-inch LCD display with resolution of 1,440×900 pixel (WXGA+).

Plextor has a new couple of NAS drives for network storage, the StorX PX-NAS500L and PX-NAS1000L which offers 500GB and 1TB capacity respectively. Each drives features gigabit LAN port, one-touch USB backup button, pair of USB 2.0 port, and ability to operate over GigaLAN networks. Both of drives will be available from early June 2008 through network of Plextor dealers and backed two years of warranty.