Linux Mint 5.0 (”Elyssa”) is available in a lightweight flavor suitable for older hardware, thanks to its use of the ultra-lightweight XFCE window manager. At the same time, the release features the option of fancy Compiz desktop graphics, for those who like eye candy.

The first, 9-episode season of ‘The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ was good — not great, but certainly on the right track with its characterizations, and serialized story. Tonight kicks off Terminator’s second season, and the premiere episode “Samson and Delilah” pays off those nine episodes in spades.

A cleverly written and humorous script by renowned playwright and director Martin McDonagh, together with outstanding performances by Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson and Ralph Fiennes, results in one very brilliant film.

Being derivative isn’t necessarily a condemnation in television, but given the auspices and hype, “Fringe” disappoints — mixing a bit of “The X-Files” here and a dollop of “Alias” there, flecks of deeply embedded conspiracies and imperiled humanity. The title should do a reasonably good job of describing the show’s audience.

With a sharp 9 inch screen, 16GB solid state drive and optional 3G mobile internet functionality waiting in the wings, Dell’s new $599 mini notebook, the Inspiron Mini 9, has maximum appeal – unless you want Linux…

They’re back! Just when you thought the “browser wars” were over, with the two camps – Microsoft and Mozilla.org – settling in for a kind of intransigent détente, along comes Google to stir things up all over again. Clearly, Google is unhappy with the current state of browser geopolitics and feels it needs to roll its own.

Alfred Hitchcock said a movie should play the audience like a piano. “Death Race” played me like a drum. It is an assault on all the senses, including common. Walking out, I had the impression I had just seen the video game and was still waiting for the movie.

For new users though the Xandros Linux configuration is very easy to use with its IceWM-based manager and simple tabs for navigating between the different areas. However, we would have liked to see ASUS use Ubuntu’s Netbook Remix for the Eee PC. Perhaps we will see them make the switch for a future model.

A dark goofball comedy about assorted doofuses in Washington, D.C., only some of whom work for the government, this short, snappy picture from the Coen Brothers - of ‘No Country for Old Men’ fame - tries to mate sex farce with a satire of a paranoid political thriller, with arch and ungainly results.

“Hellboy II: The Golden Army” is in every way the equal of the original “Hellboy” (2004), although perhaps a little noisier. The film is another celebration of director Guillermo del Toro’s love for bizarre fantasy and diabolical machines.