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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.

With NEC’s patented OptiClear DVM screens, the GX2 produces images with sharp color and vivid clarity, and with rapid response times of just 6 milliseconds, the monitor delivers video and gaming images with smooth, crystal-clear quality. The GX2 has a contrast ratio of 1600:1 and an integrated TV tuner in a wide-aspect format. Because the GX2 display boasts multimedia performance, it has a host of additional features, such as coax, S-Video, composite and component video inputs, a remote, Picture-in-Picture display and a speaker bar with dual 5-watt speakers.

Other features include:

• OptiClear DVM screen technology for razor sharp images in text, photo and motion video applications
• 400cd/m2 super brightness for vivid on-screen performance
• 4-port powered USB 2.0 hub for quick connection to a wide range of peripherals and storage devices
• XtraView technology provides for some of the widest viewing angles available
• Ambix dual-input technology: DVI-D digital input for connection to the latest high- performance video cards and 15-pin D-SUB analog input for compatibility with traditional PCs
• Integrated cable management system to reduce distracting clutter
• No Touch Auto Adjust reduces setup time and provides optimal image settings upon initial power-on

Estimated street price for the 20WMGX2 is $799.

www.necdisplay.com

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.

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. Designed to store in a laptop's PCMCIA slot (if you have one), the remote includes all the basic buttons you'll need in a presentation -- forward, reverse and escape as well as black and white. No drivers are needed to make it work -- yes! Also works with most presentation software (there's life beyond PowerPoint?).

If this wasn't cool enough, add in an integrated laser pointer so you can highlight your slides with a little red light from up to 75 feet away.

Just used it for the first time in a new business meeting on Friday. Very easy to set up and operate; it makes for (as Ed Sullivan used to say), a "really big show" -- a flawless performer.

Suggested retail price is $79.99 from MobileEdge.com.

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.)

"Intel. Leap Ahead."

Does this get anybody warm and fuzzy over the company's image?

Anybody got any better ideas?

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?

Whoa! A computer inside a Viper? Yep, you read that right. An actual Pentium 4 computer inside a Viper. No big deal you say? After all, a Dodge Viper's small trunk still can fit one or two NOS tanks. Surely a PC can fit, right? Well, it is a big deal when it's a Compucar Dodge Viper that measures less than 18" long, 7.5" wide, and 7" tall. The Viper IS the computer! The picture above is actually a fully functioning PC running in a model Dodge Viper. [hat tip to Computer Collector for the tip]

Check out the specs::
Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHZ Prescott processor
40GB SATA HDD
4 SATA connections with RAID 0,1
Intel 915G integrated GMA (Graphic Media Accelerator – 900 Technology) supports up to 224 MB
512MB DDRII 533MHZ RAM
Slim Line Slot Load CD-RW/DVD
Intel ICH6R Integrated Audio with Realtek ALC655 5.1 CH AC97 Codec
2 Integrated Gigabit Network Adapters
Intel Pro/Wireless 2200B/G Mini-PCI Network Adapter
4 USB 2.0 Ports
2 IEEE 1394 Ports (Firewire)
Microsoft Wireless Multimedia Keyboard
Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse
Microsoft Windows XP Home
PowerDVD (DVD player software)
McAfee VirusScan 9.0 w/1yr subscription
1yr parts and labor warranty

List Price:$1,749.99
Our Price: $1,599.99
You Save: $150.00 (9%)

Here's a photo of another car depicting the ports just so you can see how it works (link):

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. Look at all the data that we need to store on all of the gadgets we own! Will be interesting to see how this develops and how a growing market reduces the number of industry players ...

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.

With this move only a little more than six months after Lenovo completed its purchase of IBM’s personal computer business, analysts believe this signifies that Lenovo wants to try to match Dell's growth.

With these developments, I’m looking forward to seeing if the ThinkPad can once again gain the top spot.  Who says competition isn’t good?