Recently in Computer Hardware Category

It may seem like a while ago that I blogged about the groovy new U3 technology -- the evolution of the USB drive -- but it was only last week!

This time, let's taka a look at an actual product -- Verbatim's 1GB Store ‘n’ Go U3 Smart Drive, the newest member of its award-winning family of Store ‘n’ Go USB drives.

Just the size of a pack of gum, the U3 smart drive offers a new mobile computing platform that allows you to carry smart software applications, PC settings, files and personal preferences wherever you go and to access them on any Windows XP or 2000 PC via any open USB port.

Verbatim’s Smart Drive adds a nice personal twist by including an app called U3 Launchpad, an intuitive interface that makes accessing U3 smart software and device features fast and easy. An extensive library of U3 smart applications ranging from backup, email and photo organizers to music players and graphics applications can be downloaded from www.u3.com as well as directly from the Store ‘n’ Go U3 Launchpad.

Verbatim also includes McAfee antivirus protection.

Street Price: $99.00

www.verbatim.com/u3

Remember when computers had floppy drives?

Well, yes, some still do, but the generation of CDs and then USB storage devices has made them largely obsolete.

Now, the ubiquitous USB flash drive has undergone the latest step in its evolution -- transforming into the U3 smart drive. It doesn't look any different than what we've come to expect from this tiny little wonder, but it's what's inside that makes them smart:

• Carry and access your files easily (OK, that's not new)
• Keep your data safe and secure (Yes, but how so?)
• Comes with pre-loaded software (Now, that's interesting)
• Hundreds of software titles available (What?)

Backed by flash drive manufacturers SanDisk and msystems (and now supported by many other companies), U3 is an innovative “smart” drive platform that transforms the traditional, data-storing USB flash drives into tiny, little personal computers. (How so?)

Now, with U3, users have the ability to load their U3 smart drives with popular Windows applications, personal preferences, computer settings and files. U3 smart drives provide businesses and consumers alike with a convenient, portable, personalized computing solution.

Now, how about this? U3 has OpenOffice and ThinkFree Office presentation programs, which are compatible with PowerPoint so I can save a PowerPoint file on a U3 smart drive, open and edit it using the ThinkFree Office presentation program and then reopen it in PowerPoint once it's back on a computer with Microsoft Office.

How about ease of use? Using a U3 smart drive is simple. You simply plug it into any PC’s USB port to access personalized e-mail programs, Web browsers, productivity tools, antivirus programs, multimedia applications, music and games. (Like I said, hundreds of downloadable apps.)

When you unplug the U3 smart drive from the computer, you take your personal information with you -- safe and secure.

And talk about security -- you can password protect the entire drive so if it's ever lost or stolen, the data inside stays inside. (Sort of like that Las Vegas saying, eh?)

(And remember when headlines to stories made sense? )

www.u3.com

And now for something completely different!

Mimoco is a designer toy studio meets consumer electronics company based in Boston. Their mission: "To bring style and soul to personal tech devices and to inject interactivity into the burgeoning designer toy movement."

The fruits of their vision are the delicious and fresh mimobot designer toy USB flash drives that were launched late last year. 

At DigitalLife 2006, talented NYC character creator and illustrator, Dino Alberto, was tapped by Albie Hecht, former President of Nickelodeon and Spike TV, to conceive a character to celebrate the launch of Hecht’s new CGI and HD production company, Worldwide Biggies Broadband Studios.

Meanwhile, I've been hanging out with "Fresno," from the Circus Punks X mimobot limited edition of 500.

Very cool -- art meets USB Drive.

Raging with fists of fury and boots a stompin', he was last seen slung over broken bumper cars ...

Mimobots are available in 256MB, 512MB, 1GB and 2GB capacities and produced in limited editions of 250 to 500 units. The hi-speed USB 2.0 drives are compatible with both Windows and Mac.

I told you it was something completely different ...

www.mimoco.com

Flexity has put a whole new spin (and look!) on one of the essential "back office" elements of personal computing -- the lowly surge protector.

(Is there anything more utilitarian than that?)

Yes, believe it or not, that dull black or white (or even gray) strip of metal, some outlets and an electrical cable with plug has undergone a dramatic transformation.

(Dare I say almost of Cinderella proportions?)

Take a look at the award-winning PowerSquid surge protector in the photo (the Surge 3000-Calamari edition); have you ever seen anything like it? (Except maybe in the water ...)

The Surge 3000-Calamari Edition’s graceful cephalopod (that's fancy for "squid") design and stylish blue-on-white highlights really make this squid-like (especially once you feel those "legs"). Obvioiusly it looks cool with Apple Mac products, but even my Dell looks a bit spiffier with this thing.

(Am sure it would do the same for you.)

Oh, and don't think this is all design and no guts; it comes fully loaded with a feature set that includes:

• 3240 Joule rating
• Six flexible outlets
• Two glowing neon tentacles
• Audible alarm
• Tripwire Fail-Safe Circuit
• Flat profile fit 360° rotating swivel plug
• 8 foot cord
• $500,000 limited connected equipment warranty

MSRP: $79.95

www.powersquid.net

The computer printer market has been pretty much HP's for such a long time now it's hard to believe there's much competition (but don't tell Lexmark, Epson or Canon that ...)

Now, in what could have seismic implications in this pretty staid market, Lenovo is planning to make an entrance (and we mean major, as in major entrance) into the printer market.

According to Lyra Research, Lenovo has a vision for a Chinese consortium of printer and supplies makers. Such a Chinese consortium, operating under the protection of the Chinese government, could have a major impact on foreign printer makers’ sales in the domestic Chinese market.

If Lenovo succeeds in creating a global competitor, the vast printer markets in India and other emerging nations may be up for grabs.

(And how about the good old U.S. of A.?)

Larry Jamieson, director of Lyra's Hard Copy Industry Advisory Service, said, "Companies such as Canon, Epson and HP stand to lose significant market share rapidly if Lenovo's strategy is realized. By realigning and leveraging existing infrastructure from numerous domestic printer makers, Lenovo's consortium could realize major gains in the Chinese market and will be poised, essentially, to take on the world's markets."

Isn't it always something ...

That's right -- 9.6 million.  That's the number (as it stands today) of the number of batteries that Sony has recalled because of safety problems.

Just about every notebook computer manufacturer has been hit by this problem.

Do you think desktop sales will go up and notebook sales will go down because of this?

Will be interesting to see the sales figures once the holiday shopping season is complete.

(Of course, this will not take into account notebook sales to "mobile warriors," those guys and gals who just can't stay glued to their desk jobs for any amount of meaningful time ...)

NewsFactor has got the details ...

Who said misery loves company?

(Well, they would be right in this situation.)

Sony is now recalling its own notebook computer batteries (didn't want to leave Dell and the other notebook manufacturers feeling lonely, I guess) to the count of 90,00 Vaio batteries.

The problem?  It's overheating and fire potential, just like other 8 million Sony batteries that have been recalled so far.

Do you think more Vaio batteries will be added to that total?

Would not surprise me!

Want to know more, click here.

While Libya may not be the best place in the world to call home, it certainly looks a lot better to the 1.2 million children that will get $100 laptops courtesy of the Libyan government.

While we here at home are faced with many, many more expensive PC choices, the Libyan kids will join the PC-powered generation.  (John Markoff's fine reporting can be read here.)

Not too take anything away from spreading wealth and accessibility to make our world a truly smaller, closer, friendlier and better place, but wouldn't it be nice if there was program like this in the U.S. where our kids could get $100 laptops, too?

How about this paragraph from the New York Times article:

It is possible ... that Libya will become the first nation in the world where all school-age children are connected to the Internet through educational computers. “The U.S. and Singapore are not even close.”

Audio, video, backup; I don't know about you, but I've got plenty of data to store and keep track of -- and keep it safe and secure at the same time.

OWC's Mercury On-The-Go bus-powered portable solutions make it safe and easy to transport large amounts of data.

Stylishly engineered in a sleek, impact-resistant acrylic enclosure, the Mercury On-The-Go incorporates shock-isolation technology for maximum protection.

(Nothing worse then backing up and then dropping the drive ...)

If that's appealing, how about this; it weighs only 11 oz. and fits in your shrit pocket. It puts the power in your pocket ...

Let's run down the key features:

• Compact 3.5"(W) x 5.5"(D) x 1"(H)
• Intech speed tools included
• Cool blue activity indicator LED
• Super quiet operation
• Shock isolation system
• Includes carrying case
• Bus-pPowered or may be powered with included AC adapter

Price: Varies with capacity.

www.macsales.com

It seems like a pretty wacky idea, but having a keyboard that you can customize (I mean really customize) can make a lot of sense.

Ergodex's DX1 Input System is the first in a new category of input device that features movable programmable keys  -- and exceptional performance, especially for gamers, engineering professionals and artists (quite the grouping!).

The DX1 consists of a Pad on which you place individual Keys anywhere you want, and then you tell the computer what you want the Keys to do.

The DX1 Keys are assigned to match a single keyboard key, such as the letter "a" or to perform a more complex macro containing a series of keystrokes. Keys are also "application" aware, so as the user changes from, say, email to Photoshop, Keys automatically change to the macros for Photoshop.

Even though Keys contain advanced electronics, they have no batteries and no wires; they communicate wirelessly with the DX1 pad.

Ergodex’s "Molecular Velcro," an "inexhaustible adhesive", allows Keys to adhere tightly on the Pad, and a slight twist loosens a Key so it can be moved or micro-positioned for optimal placement.

MSRP: $149.95

www.ergodex.com or www.dell.com.