TechPortal

The .DWF file extension is used to store 2D and 3D designs and images when using Autodesk’s Autodesk Design Web format. DWF files can be created using the “DWF Composer” package from AutoDesk. To view these files you need the Autodesk Express Viewer.

File extension DWF belongs to drawing file category and stands for Drawing Web Format. DWF files are created by “DWF composer” which is a package linked to AutoDesk. To view these files, one needs Autodesk Express Viewer program installation. DWF file extension is widely used in design Web designing thus it is an important file. It allows one to make two and 3-dimension images intended for Web site creation. The compressing facility linked with file extension DWF allows storage of files in compressed form thus increasing resolution and minimizing file size. Apart from graphics, data stored within DWF include data in text form.

Various operating systems have ability of opening and operating files having file extension DWF; these include Mac operating system as well as Windows operating system. While using a Mac operating system, one should install IMSI TurboCAD program to view and operate this file. While using a Windows operating system, one should install Autodesk Design Review in addition to IMSI TurboiCAD to open DWF file extension. For smooth operation of DWF extension, proper association with other files types must exist. Such file includes hard ware devices’ driver files. Examples of such files includes USB driver files

Web designing and storage of graphic data requires a reliable memory. Storage devices such as hard discs require regular defragmenting operations to enhance quick retrieval of data. To boosts system’s memory, one runs a performance scan. Performance scan also optimizes utilization of DWF file by the central processing unit thus boosting productivity. Apart from running the performance scan, one needs to run a stability scan to promote system’s stability. This enhances proper data storage as well as web designing activities. When one decides to download these programs via internet, one should take care of virus programs designed to resemble these programs.

MSI has unveiled a sleek little PC for people who want a low cost, all-in-one desktop.

MSI’s Wind Top AE1900 touchscreen computer is one sleek little number, and despite lacking grunt in the processing stakes, its sleekness makes the undeniably sexy iMac look bulky by comparison.

All-in-one PCs are being released in droves lately as computer makers seemingly have decided that every kitchen in the world needs an all-in-one PC lest families never communicate again.

The AE1900 is powered by a dual-core Intel Atom 230 CPU and runs Windows XP Home. A webcam and mic are built-in for audio and video recording including easy Skype video chats. MSI claims that the machine has some serious green chops as well consuming less than 80% of the power needed by the traditional desktop PC. At full load, the machine consumes only 50 watts of power.

Storage is provided by a 160GB 2.5-inch SATA hard drive and other features include a quartet of USB ports, 4-in-1 memory card reader, and a matching keyboard and mouse to augment the touchscreen. The screen is 18.5-inches with a resolution of 1366 x 768 with brightness of 250dc/m2 and contrast ratio of 1000:1.

Graphics for the little machine are via Intel integrated GMA950 with up to 228MB of shared memory. MSI plugs 1GB of RAM into the system and a DVD super multi drive is built-in. integrated 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi is included and speakers are built-in. Overall measurements are 14.37-inches x 18.74-inches x 1.93-inches.

Pricing for the AE1900 is set at $US529 ($754) in the US, but MSI Australia tells us it will cost $1099 in Australia, when it is released at the end of May — still a reasonable deal.

Source : APCMag.com

Acer has unveiled new workstations that make it easy to work on the guts without getting in a tangle.

It seems that the desire to make business class machines sexy (or at least moderately attractive) has become popular among computer makers. I talked previously about the HP Z series workstations sporting a design that was debatably sexy in many geek cliques. Perhaps the coolest part of the HP workstations wasn’t the visual appeal of the machines, but the modular, cable-free design.

By “cable free” I don’t mean you won’t have an unsightly mess of cables hanging out the back of the PC (how messy that gets is still up to you) but rather the internal cabling of the system (though we note in the promotional Acer photo below they have cunningly not shown any cords — not even the absolutely mandatory monitor cable.)

A cable-free machine allows you to easily work on components such as the optical drive, floppy drive and hard drives without worrying about plugging and unplugging cables, or having a thicket of them getting in your way when you’re working inside the case.

Acer has unveiled its own line of not quite ugly business class workstations that are aiming for the buyer looking to spend significantly less than the high-end HP Z series workstations demand in price, while still offering a cable-free modular design. The new Acer machines include the Veriton M265, Veriton M421G, and Veriton M670G.

Two M265 models are being offered with the M265-ED2220C using a Pentium Dual-core E2220 2.4GHz CPU, Vista Business with XP downgrade option pre-loaded, 2GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, and a DVD burner starting at $US419 ($AU597 as a direct conversion, but it will cost more here due to Australia’s system of distributors and retailers who all take a cut).

The M265-BE1400C uses a slower Celeron Dual-core 2GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, DVD burner, and includes a 19-inch LCD starting at $US499 (equivalent to $AU711).

Acer’s Veriton M421G-ED5000C starts at $US439 (equivalent to $AU626) and includes an Athlon X2 dual-core CPU running 2.6GHz, 2GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, DVD burner, and discrete ATI HD 3200 graphics.

The Veriton M670G-UQ9400C is the high-end model with Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 CPU at 2.66GHz, 3GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, DVD burner, and graphics via ATI Radeon HD 4350 Pro. Pricing starts at $US899, and it is available in Australia from $AU1044, though it comes with a lower-spec Intel GMA 4500 integrated graphics chip rather than the discrete ATI Radeon 4350 Pro that the US gets.

We are waiting to hear back from Acer Australia on when/if it will introduce the M265 of the M421G, and at what price. We’ve also asked whether any of its existing Veriton workstations (other than the M670G) offer the same modular, cable-free design.

Source : APCMag.com

A developer has got a bunch of old Sierra games working in modern web browsers, providing a multiplayer redux of Space Quest, Leisure Suit Larry and Police Quest.

Immersive 3D graphics, mouse-driven gaming and massively multiplayer environments that stretch for hundreds of kilometres of virtual world are all very well, but do you still hanker for the blocky joy of old adventure games like Space Quest, Leisure Suit Larry and Police Quest?

Well, now you can play them in your web browser, complete with arrow-key control and text based commands.

Developer Martin Kool has unveiled Sarien.net, as “a portal for reliving the classic Sierra On-Line adventure games,” and even better the game portal is totally browser based using Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera or Safari.

If you enjoyed playing games such as Police Quest: In pursuit of the Death Angel, Space Quest: The Sarien Encounter, or Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards then you can now enjoy them via the Sarien website.

The twist is that Kool has reinvented them as multiplayer games, so you can see other people steering their little block avatar around the game, and also the commands they are typing.

An unintended consequence of this is that the Sierra text parser can be used for public chat. For example, when we were playing Leisure Suit Larry and had got into the dumpster out the back of the pub (for a little R&R of course), another player walked past and typed into his text parser, “WTF are you doing here!?”

Each room in a game is accessible using the address bar, so you can bookmark a scene to save your place. You can even run the games on the Apple iPhone and also the Nintendo Wii game console though Kool admits he needs to do more work on them to make them easy to use on those platforms (probably due to the text input requirements).

In the upcoming weeks the site promises to add more games.

The legality of the site is unclear, since Activision Blizzard owns the copyright to the Sierra games, and is in fact still making money from them by selling them in cheap CD-ROM compilations.

However, let’s hope Activision Blizzard realises that these games are part of computing history and doesn’t take the lame approach of suing Sarien.net into oblivion.

If you’re a Sierra fan in general, also check out this Sierra Links page we came across recently, which has loads of interesting links and memorabilia about Sierra games.

GameSpot also interviewed Leisure Suit Larry creator Al Lowe on their podcast just a couple of days ago, about what a travesty the latest Leisure Suit Larry games are — the makers didn’t even let Al know they were doing the followup games.

Source: APCMag.com