Computer Hardware

Are Mini-Notebooks on the Way Back?

May 29, 2008

Always loved the smallest of the small laptop PCs, but seems they never really took off for a number of reasons -- form factor is limited by keyboard size (chiclets anyone), features tend to not be pushing the envelope and price is high (smaller means pricier -- MacBook Air anyone).

Now Acer and Dell seem to both be getting into the act. Read more about Acer's latest offering (with photos) here on the UMPC Portal.

Ah, if we could only carry one gadget that could do it all ... will it be phone, computer or wrist radio (Dick Tracy, anyone) ...

That's one of my favorites pictured above -- Compaq's Contura Aero -- note the trackball location (thanks to the Home Computer Museum)!

Posted in Computer Hardware

Shame on Dell

May 27, 2008

The New York Attorney General's Office has won a major suit against Dell, with the court ruling that Dell engaged in fraud, false advertising and deceptive business practices. Read more about it here.

Now are we going to see any money (Show Me the Money) or is it going to be the typical case (no pun intended) where the lawyers clean up and we get a $25 credit toward the next purchase of a Dell product???

The company to pay restitution and forfeit unlawfully earned profits -- Show Me the Money!

Posted in Computer Hardware

Apple Takes Lead in $1K+ Computer Market

May 19, 2008

Everybody knows that Apple is kicking butt, and now research force NPD has reported huge growth in Apple's share of the so-called “premium” computer market — machines that cost more than $1,000.

Less than 18% in January 2006, by September 2007 it had grown to more than 57%, and in the first quarter of 2008 it hit a record 66%.

To some extent, this is growth by default as HP, Dell and Lenovo ship beaucoup quantities of PCs at price points between $500 and $750, whereas the only Macintosh that sells for less than $1,000 is the $599 Mini.

Build Your Own Notebook -- Really, You Build It

May 16, 2008

OCZ Technology has announced a new spin on an old product: the build-it-yourself notebook PC. Yes, you really do build it yourself ...

According to a report in ExtremeTech, OCZ's DIY Gaming Notebook (part number OCZNBIAS15DIYA on the company's Web site) includes the basics: a 15.4-inch WXGA display, an Intel PM965 chipset, an Nvidia GeForce 8600MGT/512 Mbyte video card and an 8X DVD±R/RW combo drive capable of reading and writing four-layer discs.

However, buyers have to buy and install the CPU, memory, hard drive and operating system themselves, either from OCZ or somebody else.

However, "building" the notebook consists of four steps: installing the hard drive, installing the memory, installing the CPU and attaching the bezel. (Some easy, some a bit hard, unless you've been under the hood of a desktop PC.

The new notebook will be the first of a family of products, the company said, but pricing has not yet been determined.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Dell Goes More Seriously after Gamers

May 13, 2008

Surprising to some, but Dell is abandoning several of its most popular models to focus on its premium line of specialty gaming personal computers.

Not too surprising to some, Dell had to do something to juice up its chances after falling to the No. 2 spot in PC sales behind HP. (Doesn't No. 2 always try harder?)

Looks like Alienware may be invading a home near you sometime soon ... And we all know those higher-end innovations do participate in the "trickle down" effect that we've all come to know and love.

Read more about it in the Wall Street Journal here.

Posted in Computer Hardware

New Dell Notebooks Coming?

May 8, 2008

The steady pace of computer technology marches on ...

According to a report on Engadget (here), Dell is set to launch a series of new Inspiron notebooks.

Having had an Inspiron 700m for what sees like ages now, feel good that Dell is coming off of its battery woes, but only time (and the gadget-buying public) will prove that right ...

And that may be soon, with the first one apparently coming right around Memorial Day.

Posted in Computer Hardware

New iMac Specs Are Good To Have ...

April 28, 2008

Thanks to ZDNet for publishing a quick rundown of the specs for the new iMacs launched today. Having moved from PC to the now almost-current iMac and the fabulous new MacBook Pro, you have to tip your hat to Apple for just getting better and better ...

Posted in Computer Hardware

Plantronics SupraPlus HW251N-USB Wideband Headset

April 11, 2008

Rich and I reviewed the Plantronics SupraPlus HW251N-USB Wideband headset, featuring wideband codec support for use in VoIP applications such as Skype and Microsoft Office Communicator. Rich actually got two pre-production models and was kind enough to give me one of the SupraPlus headsets. Actually, he wanted me to be his guinea pig to test the audio quality since I get to hear and review quite a few VoIP products.

We tested the monaural style Plantronics SupraPlus HW251N-USB using both Skype and Microsoft Office Communicator. The audio quality was quite good.

Posted in Call Center and CRM, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Headsets, Reviews, Skype, TMCnet, VoIP

Sony PSP GPS

January 9, 2008

Sony announced GPS functionality for its Sony PSP gaming platform. While the GPS accessory was released in Japan in late 2006, this marks the "demo" launch (at CES) of the product in North America. It was simply a demo at CES, but Sony reps said they expect the product to ship sometime this year.

The GPS device will load map data from an included UMD that's region specific. Updated or additional country maps can be purchased and downloaded to a Memory Stick.

Posted in Accessories, Computer Hardware, GPS, Gadgets, Home Entertainment, PDAs & Handhelds, Sports/Outdoor Technology, Wireless

Streaming TV with Skype

January 2, 2008

How would you like to use your Slingbox with Skype or is it Skype with Slingbox? Anyway... For a few months now I've been playing with using Skype along with a Slingbox, a popular gadget that lets you stream your home TV content, enabling remote viewing of live and pre�-recorded television over the Internet. I've been a huge advocate of streaming live TV across the Internet for years, so figured I'd post my tips on streaming TV utilizing Skype, Slingbox, and TV tuner cards.

Slingbox includes a software player for remote playback of your TV/video content, so you're probably wondering why anyone would want to use Skype instead.

Posted in Computer Hardware, Computer Software, Home Entertainment, Microsoft, Mobile Phones, Reviews, Skype, Video Hardware & Software, Wireless

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