While it lacks most of the bells and whistles of the most expensive netbooks, for around $700 you’ll get a solid performer that handles all the basic essential tasks well.

The Acer Aspire One 532h is a nice basic netbook for under $700.

Under the hood, you’ll find the usual specifications for netbooks, including an Intel Atom N450 CPU and 250GB hard drive. The good news is that this Intel processor provides excellent battery life, so you can expect up to 10 hours when performing low-power tasks.

The 10.1-inch widescreen display with 1024×600 native resolution is also a fairly standard specification for an entry-level netbook. There’s also a touch pad, which is unfortunately on the small side and may prove tricky for anyone with larger hands.

Acer has also equipped the Aspire One 532h with 802.11n Wi-Fi (but unfortunately no Bluetooth).

Why not treat that special Dad in your life this Fathers day by signing up to receive Lasoo weekly newsletters.

Sign up this week and you will go in the draw to win one of three $500 book packs from Paper Plus.  That’s a whole lot of books for your Dad!

Plus, not only that, for every person that registers, you will receive a 30% discount voucher off any book at Paper Plus.

Lasoo Weekly newsletters will help you to keep informed of all the latest catalogues, hot products and competitions.  Membership of Lasoo is free and when you register, you’ll also be able to use handy functions such as alerts and wish lists.

To sign up to receive your weekly Lasoo Newsletter click here

Out and about shopping on the weekend I was surprised at the amount of sale signs on store windows. Does this mean that summer is finally on its way?

One sale that did catch my attention was Jeanswest. Not normally one to venture into this store, the offer of 60% off a second item flashing at me through the window was all to alluring.

Much to my surprise I could have walked out of the store with about 10 items. Why is it that when things are on sale, it seems to justify spending more?

My favourite find had to be this cute ‘Esmeralda denim jacket’, and although I didn’t purchase it at the time I think I am going to have to go back and get it as this morning when I opened my inbox I find an email telling me that there is 40% off storewide from today until Sunday 29th August. It must be a sign….

Just after I posted my blog this morning I was hugely surprised to learn that the iPhone and iPad application for Lasoo was launched ahead of time and is now available to download from the Apple store- great news for all those eagerly awaiting Lasoo users like myself.

It’s all very exciting here at the Lasoo office with the launch of the iPad and iPhone application for Lasoo just around the corner. What does this mean for you? You will be able to access Lasoo from your iPad or iPhone with the click of a button where you will be able create and save your own shopping list which you can then take into store with you. You can also set-up customised alerts for the best deals and receive exclusive newsletters and special offers right to your phone or iPad.

Imagine being in a shop such as the Warehouse where you find a PS3 and wonder if the price it is advertised at is a good deal, all you need to do is pull out you iPhone or iPad, click on the Lasoo app and you will be able to search and sort by all the major retailers that are selling PS3’s and compare which one has the best price. How cool is that?

The Lasoo app will be only the fourth New Zealand app for the iPad, which puts us at the top of the game when it comes to staying in touch with the latest technology. Not only that but the launch of the Lasoo application has created considerable interest amongst the New Zealand public and has featured on the Scoop website and in The National Business Review.

The Lasoo NZ iPhone and iPad application is expected to be launched here Monday August 23.

The Flip Mino HD is one of a new generation of mini-camcorders that combine portability; decent performance and functionality; and affordable pricing.

These devices don’t pretend to be the best-in-breed in terms of performance and features, but deliver “good enough” performance - with portability and an affordable price tag being the key selling points.

This latest iteration of the Flip Mino HD offers several upgrades over the 2009 model, including twice the memory (8GB, so you can now record up to 120 minutes of standard definition footage); a larger LCD screen (up by 0.5-inches to 2-inches); plus the ability to upload your videos directly to Facebook, YouTube and MySpace using the on-board FlipShare software.

Aside from these upgrades, not much has changed, but this is still a nifty little device. Basically, it’s an ultra portable mini-camcorder that can record in high-definition at 30 frames-per-second (though admittedly at 1280×720 it’s not Full HD, but once again - it’s “good enough”). The top of the Flip Mino HD has a flip-out USB connector, which allows you to plug it into your computer to upload the footage and share it as you wish.

Sounds simple, and that’s the beauty of it. The image quality isn’t what you’d expect from a full-sized HD camcorder, but this device isn’t intended to be used to film cinematic masterpieces. It’s for filming and sharing as simply as possible, and that’s good enough for many of us.

The new Flip Mino HD mini-camcorder is available now

A plasma TV can completely turn around your lounge room viewing experience. But what should you look for when purchasing a new television? Our plasma TV buying guide can help you decide.

Plasma TV technology
A plasma TV, like an LCD TV, consists of a substance sitting between two panels of glass. However the substance used in a plasma television is made up of small chambers of gas within each sub-pixel. When an electrical current is passed through the substance a reaction is caused in the gas and UV light is emitted. Each sub-pixel also contains phosphors and when UV light is emitted the phosphors emit their specified colour of light (red, green or blue).

The gas used in plasma TVs emits its own light, unlike LCD TV, which require a back light. Plasma TVs therefore generally product deeper blacks (also known as a contrast ratio – the higher the contrast ratio quoted for a flatscreen TV, the better the quality of the whites and blacks on-screen).

Plasma TV screen size and space
Looking for a massive TV? Then you should be looking at a plasma. All those mammoth flatscreen TVs you hear about (we’re talking over 100-inches) are plasma. These days however a lot of manufacturers make these screens in smaller sizes and a popular flavour seems to be a 42-inch plasma.

Plasma televisions are also better for viewing areas that extend a long way to each side away from the screen as they have a better viewing angle than LCD TVs.

Plasma TV response time
Just like LCD TVs, you should also be aware of something called response time when it comes to sussing out your new plasma TV. A lower response time is considered better as a higher response time will cause fast-moving images to blur slightly. It’s measured in milliseconds (ms).

Plasma TV and HDTV
Just because you see the term “HD” or “high-definition” used somewhere in connection with a plasma TV, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting full high-definition. To be sure of what you’re getting, check the native resolution of the screen, which refers to the number of pixels that can fit on the screen. True HD is defined as 1920×1080 pixels, which also appears as 1080p and Full HD. However other resolutions are also classified as being high-definition, including 1366×768 and 120×720 (also known as 720p).

To the untrained eye, these lower forms of high-definition won’t prove much different to view than Full HD screens. And don’t forget, there’s no point having a high-definition TV unless you have a high-definition source to feed it, such as a Blu-ray player or HD broadcast.

Best plasma TVs
Plasma TVs are manufactured by many, but perfected by few. Many of us love Panasonic Vieras, such as the model pictured here, and Samsung plasma televisions.

The new Apple iPhone 4 has finally touched down in New Zealand, bringing with it the kind of hysteria we’re now used to with new Apple releases.

And while version 4 of the popular smartphone represents the most significant departure from the original build we first saw in 2006, it’s also attracted the most criticism. And most of that criticism comes courtesy of the antenna issue, which is a big one indeed.

No, Apple did not fix this problem before releasing the phone in New Zealand - if you hold the phone a certain way, reception is significantly affected (given that the metal trim around the outside of the phone is the antenna). This is most likely going to affect users in low coverage areas, so be warned. If you’re not planning on heading out of the city with your new iPhone 4, then you shouldn’t have too many problems. But when you’re paying $1099 for a phone, wouldn’t you really want zero potential for problems from the outset?

Then there is the difference is in terms of aesthetics. This new iPhone looks significantly different to its three older siblings. For one thing, it’s slimmer - measuring in at 9.3mm thick (or thin), a full 2.7mm thinner than the 3Gs. It also lacks the curves of earlier models and, as mentioned above, has a metal ring around the edge that doubles as an antenna.

The 3.5-inch screen has also had a decent resolution upgrade to 960×640 pixels. Not only is that better than previous iPhones, but that also means that the iPhone 4 has the best screen resolution for a mobile phone - ever. Couple the screen upgrade this with the 5-megapixel camera with LED flash and 720p HD recording, and you have yourself a visual powerhouse.

Then there is the much publicised front-facing video camera, which allows you to make video calls. Unfortunately, this feature will only work with other iPhone 4 users, so early adopters won’t have a whole lot of use for it at first.

All this extra functionality requires more power. Last but not least, Apple has equipped the iPhone 4 with the A4 processor, most recently seen on the iPad, providing it with a significant performance boost.

These days it seems everyone is buying a GPS unit for their vehicle - but do you need one, and if so, which one is right for you? Our GPS buying guide will help you decide.

Do I need GPS?
Not everyone requires a GPS device for their car, motorcycle or other vehicle to get them from A to B. If the majority of your driving is around areas you are already very familiar with, then you won’t get that much benefit out of one. GPS is intended mainly for drivers who require directions with at least moderate frequency.

Do you do most of your driving in the city CBD? If so, GPS may not be worth it. Many GPS units struggle in high-rise areas, although some are better than others - so make sure you read expert reviews of the latest devices before purchasing.

Then there is the issue of tech-savviness. If you are at least somewhat proficient with gadgets then you will be able to use most GPS devices with ease. If, however, you struggle to program your 20-year-old VCR, then you may not be the ideal candidate (let’s not forget that everything seems ten times more frustrating when you’re in the car or in heavy traffic).

Last but not least, price is also a consideration. GPS units cost upwards of around $100 for the most basic units, all the way up to several hundred dollars. So if you’re happy with your old street directory and generally stick to your local area, consider whether it’s worth investing in GPS.

Which GPS?
GPS devices come in three flavours: dashboard, portable and handheld. Dashboard units are the ones that are incorporated into the vehicle’s actual dash - usually during the manufacturing process, though they can also be installed later. Dashboard GPS units tend to be more expensive, however they look neater than the portable kind and tend to work better with other devices installed in the car. Maps for these units are usually stored on either SD card or hard drive.

Portable GPS devices meanwhile can be attached to the interior of your vehicle via suction cups and are powered by a car charger. They are cheaper than the integrated dashboard models and are usually either SD card or flash memory-based.

Last but not least, GPS is also available on handheld devices, both standalone units like the Nokia 6110 Navigator as well as smartphone-type devices such as the iPhone. These tend to be smaller and less powerful than the two types mentioned above.

Screen size
Generally with GPS units, bigger screens are better, given that you’ll be reading from the screen in the car. Portable devices usually have either a 3.5-inch or 4.3-inch widescreen, which will of course cost you more.

Voice navigation
Many devices today offer voice navigation as well as on-screen instructions, though some entry-level models will only provide on-screen instructions. Be careful with GPS units offering voice navigation, however - some overseas software struggles with New Zealand pronunciations so it’s a good idea to listen to a demonstration before you buy.

GPS maps
It’s important to update your map information regularly to account for any road changes.

Other GPS features
Some of the more expensive units offer other features, which aren’t really necessary to the function of getting you from A to B, but can be a nice add-on. These features include Bluetooth, MP3 playback and more.

Best GPS devices
There are several manufacturers of quality devices, including Garmin GPS units (pictured here is the Garmin Nuvi 760). Also worthy of consideration is Navman and TomTom GPS devices, especially the ever-popular TomTom ONE and TomTom GO units.

I have to admit that at times I am very much a label snob when it comes to clothes, and the thought of shopping at Farmers does little to appeal, however lately I have found myself perusing over their brightly coloured catalogues and am surprised by what they have to offer.

Their new season fashion collection exudes flirty and fun.  Full of floral pieces and girly dresses, the collection doesn’t stop here.  You can also choose the shoes to match to make that perfect outfit, along with a dainty bracelet, sweet smelling perfume and funky handbag to top it off. 

My favourite piece of the collection is the Ignite Platinum Chiffon Ruffle Neck Tunic in a pretty pastel and at a price of only $39.99 I can still afford to buy the ballet flats that are recommended to go with the tunic.

As well as this, you can afford to look great underneath your outfit, with new lingerie collection Collette by Collette Dinnigan.  This range is exclusive to Farmers and if you buy two or more items you save 20%.

These days it is very rare to be able to find an entire outfit in one store, and Farmers manages to pull this off to perfection.