Computer Hardware

Lenovo & ThinkPad Shaking Up Notebook World

December 29, 2005

It used to be that IBM’s ThinkPad was the Cadillac (Mercedes, Lexus – you fill in the blank) of notebook computers.� Prized foremost by road warriors (particularly of the business class), it always was held in high regard in our household.� Starting with the 755CD, moving onto the 560 and later the T20, these survived the wear and tear of heavy business use as well as heavy child use. (They didn’t get the reputation for being built like tanks for nothing.)

However, while time waits for no one, neither does innovation in consumer electronics.� While IBM struggled to make money in personal computers, Toshiba and then later Dell and HP challenged IBM in this slot.� In recent years, IBM seemed to have a solid hold on the third position in notebook computers – solidly behind Dell and HP.� In fact, our most recent notebook purchase was a Dell Inspiron 700M.

With the sale earlier this year to Lenovo, the Chinese computer company, one was left to wonder where the proud ThinkPad name was headed.� Now, it looks like Lenovo is pointed at challenging the leaders with the news last week that it had recruited William Amelio, a senior vice president from Dell as its new chief executive and president.� � He had also worked earlier at IBM for nearly a decade.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Seagate Buys Maxtor: Storage Market Grows, Players Shrink

January 3, 2006

A few years ago (2002), the big news in computer storage was Hitachi buying IBM's disk drive business to become a major player in the computer storage market. Now, as the storage market continues to expand at the enterprise, SMB and consumer levels, industry leader Seagate has announced that it is buying its long-time rival, Maxtor.

With a major competitor out of the way, look for Seagate to grow -- and invest in -- all facets of its business; it's a major player across all of the storage sectors. In fact, the consumer area may be a renewed area of focus.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Pentium Computer in a Dodge Viper?

January 9, 2006

Whoa! A computer inside a Viper? Yep, you read that right. An actual Pentium 4 computer inside a Viper. No big deal you say?

Posted in Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Technology and Science

The Twain Shall Meet: First Intel-Based Mac

January 10, 2006

Today, at Macworld, Apple announced its first Intel-based Macintosh computer.

A milestone! And the end of the days when Windows and Intel were inseparable and the Macintosh was in its own separate competing sphere.

Knew Steve Jobs had something up his sleeve!

Bigger than the iPod?

Doubtful.

Anybody rushing out to get this one?

Posted in Computer Hardware

Intel Inside, I Mean Leap Ahead

January 12, 2006

It's been a little more than week since Intel launched a new branding campaign to replace the famous and very effective "Intel Inside" campaign that positioned a lowly computer chip as one of the key items consumers should think about when buying a computer.

Yes, it's been a week and I still can't get used to the new "Intel. Leap Ahead" company tagline.� Just doesn't have that succinct message of the "Intel Inside" tagline.The "Leap Ahead" makes me think of anything but technology, which makes sense (I guess) since Intel is moving into the living room with its new Viiv concept -- and� the� living room is where you live with� technology transparently (hopefully),� rather than dealing with technology like we have come to learn from so many computer glitches and headaches over� the years. (Hey, they are not all Intel's fault, and I'm certainly not blaming them.)

Posted in Computer Hardware

MobileEdge Makes Presentations Slick -- Just Like They Always Should Be

February 6, 2006

PowerPoint presentations are usually a two-person show -- one person to stand and talk and the other person to sit and press the necessary laptop button to advance the show to the next slide. It's a bit tedious -- and can get out of sync -- but that's the way it goes..

Well, mercifully, MobileEdge has put those days behind us. With its Slim-Line Wireless Presentation Remote, it's now possible for one person to do the whole show by simply pressing a button -- it's a TV remote streamlined into a credit card size and weight computer remote.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Sour Taste in Apple's Intel iMacs

February 13, 2006

Well, everything can't go right for Apple. Seems like there is mucho chatter across the Internet about video problems with the new Intel-based iMac -- distortion and other glitches have raised their ugly heads.

Too bad, but not surprising considering it's the first go round with this tech combo. Maybe it's just like buying a brand new car model -- sage advice is to wait for the second year when all the kinks have been worked out from the debut deal.

Posted in Computer Hardware

A Dream Date with NEC's 20WMGX2 Monitor

February 21, 2006

First we all got excited when we could trade-in (meaning get rid of and upgrade) our cathode ray tube monitors – the ones with the big piece sticking out the back – for new slim and trim LCD monitors. Now we get excited when we can move up from those 15-inch LCDs to something that’s got more size, more presence, more of everything.

Well, if you want to take a major step in that direction and skip all of the interim “baby steps,” then go for NEC’s excellent multi-function 20WMGX2 display. Building on the success of its award-winning MultiSync GX LCD monitor line, the GX2 raises the standard for both computing and entertainment.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Intel Inside; No, Mariah Carey Instead

February 22, 2006

It used to be strange looking, funky people in silver suits for the classic Intel Inside! advertising (and branding) campaign, taking a little chip that no one could see and positioning it as the center of your computing purchasing decisions.

My how time have changed -- now we have Mariah Carey (good coup after the Grammys -- three awards bay-bee!) talking about how Intel's Centrino technology is key for music downloads that can be played anywhere wirelessly.

What do you think about that?

Posted in Computer Hardware

APC Back-UPS ES 750 Has Got Your Back-up Covered

March 2, 2006

When I was a kid, the only time we had power failures was during hurricanes. Today, with our electrical grid stretched to capacity, power failures – brown outs, black outs and related mayhem – seem to happen without rhythm or reason. Or how about surges that love to travel through my data lines looking to create chaos at any time?

Well, after suffering countless data losses when the power flickers on, then off, then on and then really off, I know have found the answer to all of my woes -- American Power Conversion’s Back-UPS ES 750.

Posted in Computer Hardware

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