Computer Hardware

Microsoft Debuts Its Surface 30" Interactive Screen at Sheraton

August 20, 2008

Microsoft is putting its touchy-feely side to the test at the Sheraton Hotel.

The software giant recently showed off its new Surface technology at five Sheraton hotels nationwide. The demonstration allowed the public to get a feel for Microsoft's first fully touch-screen computer.

The table-like Surface computer operates entirely through a 30-inch interactive screen, which works along the same lines as Apple's iPhone. But the Surface also recognizes and interacts with objects such as iPods and digital cameras that it comes in contact with, allowing users to edit photos or play music on the spot. The display, which rotates, can also recognize multiple hands or fingers.

NewsFactor's got more.

Posted in Apple, Computer Hardware, Digital Cameras, MP3 Players & Digital Audio

Mac Clone Maker in Trouble -- Did You Even Know about Mac Clones?

August 12, 2008

The Miami-based Macintosh clone maker that was sued by Apple has retained a law firm that has beaten Apple in the past, court documents show.

Apple has charged Psystar with multiple counts of violating copyright, trademark, breach-of-contract and unfair-competition laws by installing Mac OS X 10.5 on Intel-based computers that it has sold since April.

According to the lawsuit, Psystar violated the Mac OS X end-user licensing agreement (EULA) when it installed Leopard on its OpenComputer desktops and OpenServ servers, both which can be ordered from the company with Apple's operating system onboard.

Now I want to know who bought these clones from Psystar in the first place?

Much more at Computerworld.

Posted in Apple, Computer Hardware

Why Pay Twice as Much for a Mac?

August 6, 2008

Is Windows really that bad, you may ask?

Well, Apple Watch asked that very same question and came up with some very interesting statistics.

Last weekend, they got to wondering about Mac versus Windows PC pricing after seeing two HP notebooks on sale at the local Target. One of them, a 14-inch model, the HP DV2946NR (pictured at left), sold for $699.99 and packed 4GB of memory and a 320GB hard drive. Capacity for both features is twice that of the $1,299 MacBook -- and shared graphics is 356MB compared with a meager 144MB for the MacBook.

I wondered: If Vista notebooks are selling for so little and packing so much, how does this compare with Mac desktops and notebooks?

You must read more and come to your own conclusion!

Posted in Apple, Computer Hardware

Enter the Netbook

August 4, 2008

Lenovo today announced it is entering the "netbook" PC market with the new IdeaPad S10 netbook PC.

Lenovo designed the super-slim, super-small IdeaPad S10 to complement a customer's primary PC or as a first-time, introductory PC purchase.

The IdeaPad S10 allows users to perform simple activities such as surf the Internet, check and write emails, listen to music and run basic applications. Lenovo also plans to introduce netbook models designed specifically for students and educators. Now is this too simple an appliance like the computer in every kitchen from a few years back?

Approximately one-inch thin with models weighing just over two pounds, the IdeaPad S10 netbook typifies thin and light design.

Maybe too light? And in this day and age, pricing is even more important than ever.

MSRP: Starting at $399 (available in early October).

Posted in Computer Hardware

Kindle Moving & Grooving

August 1, 2008

Ever since Amazon launched the Kindle last November, TechCrunch has been wondering about just how successful it's been. (Me, too!)

The electronic book initially sold out and supplies have been tight. The Kindle is such a small part of Amazon's overall business that the company does not break out how many it's sold. But we found out anyway: 240,000 Kindles have been shipped since November, according to a source close to Amazon with direct knowledge of the numbers.

Not bad, but could we make the price even more attractive to really rocket sales.

Here's how the numbers look.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Dymo DiscPainter Review

July 30, 2008

Printing CD and DVD labels can be a chore. It often requires special labels and only certain printers can accept CD/DVD labels. Certainly burning CDs and DVDs has become more popular so users are looking for quick, easy, and fun ways to label and decorate their CD/DVD collections. I have an Epson printer at home that doesn't print the size labels I need, so I resort to using a black Sharpie pen and hand scribbling on the CD or DVD.

Posted in Accessories, Computer Hardware, Gadgets, Home Entertainment, TMCnet, Video Hardware & Software

Dell's New Line Makes Like Apple

July 29, 2008

Finally it seems like somebody in the PC business besides Apple has grabbed the idea that style matters -- the message is in the medium, so to speak ...

Dell's smallest, most personalized and most environmentally responsible consumer PC, the Studio Hybrid, launched today; that's it in the photo at left.

Available immediately at www.dell.com/hybrid, the PC's new unique shape and size can be personalized with six optional, external jewel-toned color or bamboo sleeves.

Dell also unveiled two new Inspiron PCs, including the Inspiron 13, a sleek and stylish sub $800 13-inch laptop perfect for students heading back to school, available starting next week at Wal-Mart. (So much for that much ballyhooed direct model.)

The Inspiron 518 desktop, available immediately at www.dell.com, is designed for everyday family multi-media activities, like catching up on favorite TV shows via the Internet, playing online games and storing and accessing music playlists and digital images.

See what else is new here by checking out the Dell press release.

Posted in Computer Hardware

Voodoo PCs Undergo HP Mumbo-Jumbo

July 24, 2008

It's a sad day when Hewlett-Packard decides to merge its Voodoo PC business unit with its consumer business.

This were the ultimate gamer PCs from a one time stand-alone company that put a unique business model into play -- high-end performance, outrageous design and high-end prices. I mean, take a look at that box above!

Now, Voodoo's laptops and desktops will be sold alongside HP's consumer Compaq Presario and Pavilion PC lines -- sort of the opposite of the Voodoo model. It is just the next step of integration into the business units that deliver Compaq Presario and HP Pavilion, said the company.

PCWorld has more.

Posted in Computer Hardware, Video Games & Gaming, Video Hardware & Software

Is Now the Time for e-Book Readers?

July 24, 2008

With Sony announcing today that its Reader Digital Book will be able to read electronic books published using the .epub format -- the same that many of the largest book publishers are using -- ring in a new age for e-books?

Until now, Sony's e-book reader could only read books available from the Sony e-book store, PDF documents and digital rights management (DRM)-free text.

Starting next month, the new PRS-505 Sony Reader will be able to access secure DRM- and non-DRM-protected content in the .epub format, formerly called the Open eBook format.

The Sony Reader Digital Book is the first e-book reading device to support the .epub format, which is the XML-based standard format proposed by the International Digital Publishing Forum. It allows publishers to convert books to different formats, protect the copy using DRM and adds the ability to resize PDF e-books and other text to better fit the reader's screen size.

Such publishers as Harper Collins, Random House, Simon & Schuster and Penguin are offering texts in the .epub format.

CNet has more on this development here.

Posted in Computer Hardware, Computer Software

Malware & Hackers Heading to Mac Land

July 23, 2008

News that I'd rather not think about, but have to, is the new upsurge in malware written specifically for Apple users.

Still a drop in the bucket compared to Windows vulnerabilities, but Mac nastyware is on the rise.

Two new Mac-ware Trojans that emerged in February and June ought to shake Mac users of their misconceptions that their computers (and, eventually, iPods and iPhones) are impenetrable.

To put this in perspective, the first really pernicious piece of Mac malware emerged only in October 2007, suggesting that a worrisome trend is about to get worse.

Read more of this sad development here at TimesOnline (UK).

Posted in Apple, Computer Hardware, Computer Software, MP3 Players & Digital Audio, Mobile Phones

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