Question of the Day: What Type of Keyboard Is the Best to Use? [Question Of The Day]

After reading some of your comments in my review of the Das Keyboard Professional, it got me thinking about the countless keyboard variations out there and the differences between the QWERTY and Dvorak layouts. So the question today is simple—what type of keyboard is the best to use?

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NVIDIA's GeForce GTX 280 gets cracked open and reviewed

Filed under: Desktops, Gaming

It's not all that often we see a video card get dissected, but it's also not very often that we see a card with as much hardware as NVIDIA's new top-end GeForce GTX 280, which proved to be enough to get the folks at Custom PC to crack one open for a looksee. As you can see above, after removing more than a few screws, they were able to take a peak at the card's lone, massive GPU, which not surprisingly produces enough heat to require the huge cooler and heat sink that conceals it. Of course, they also put the card through its paces and, while they did find that it's bar-none the fast single GPU card out there, the performance compared to a GeForce 9800 GX2 makes the situation a bit murkier, especially given the GTX 280's hefty price tag and lofty system requirements. That apparently wasn't enough to keep it from getting their seal of approval, however, with it earning a more than respectable 84% rating.

Read - Custom PC, "Taking apart the GeForce GTX 280"
Read - Custom PC, GeForce GTX 280 Review

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What Do You Want to Ask LEGO? [Reader Participation]

As you know, I'm in Billund, Denmark, right now. Tomorrow I'll be talking with the guys who make LEGO, the ultimate geek toy, and I would be able to ask them anything I want. So what would you like to know? What would you like to see? Tell me in the comments or write to my mail directly. [LEGO]

The Ice Lounge: Custom Seating to Enhance Ice Cream Eating [Furniture]

I like ice cream as much as the next guy, but all I need to enjoy it is a spoon or a cone and a nice hot day. However, Swiss ice cream manufacturer Mövenpick has taken things a step further by hiring Claudio Colucci to design a chair specifically customized to enhance the ice cream eating experience. The result is the "Ice Lounge"—a white cocoon that supposedly relaxes the mind and body while heightening the senses to the complex, sugary flavors. It also features a built-in music system, so hardcore ice cream connoisseurs are free to pair metal music with mint chocolate chip. Unfortunately, the Ice Lounge is for special events only. [Claudio Colucci via Le Design via The Design Blog]

PSP firmware 4.00 due "soon," adds Google search to XMB

Filed under: Gaming

There's no indication of an exact release date just yet, but word just dropped on the official PlayStation blog that the PSP will be getting a boost to firmware version 4.00 "soon." That'll bring with it the addition of Google search directly form the XMB interface, which Sony says "replicates the Google Internet search experience." Apart from that somewhat notable upgrade, the only other new feature they're talking about at the moment is the ability to change the viewing speed during playback of videos stored on a Memory Stick. Not exactly the upgrade we would have guessed for a milestone like 4.00, but we can always hope Sony has a couple of surprises up its sleeve.

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Sony PSP Firmware 4.00 Getting Google Search [PSP]

PSP firmware 4.00 is giving the portable Google search, with stored memory for the 20 last searches. And video played off a memory stick can be sped up or slowed down. Funny how such a monumental firmware digit stands for such minor upgrades, but we're happy to see improved functionality by software any day, in any device.

The Google search engine will be accessible under the XMB’s “Network” category through a new “Internet Search” icon. The new feature will deliver the same Google search results as when searching on www.google.com. The functionality also has an input history recall of up to 20 items for more efficient browsing. Working with Google to offer its superior search technology demonstrates SCEA’s commitment to further enhance the mobile entertainment experience on PSP system.