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Personal Computing
World’s largest virtual desktop deployment underway
By Karen Sprey
18:46 March 5, 2009 PST
In what's billed as world’s largest virtual desktop deployment, 356,800 desktops will be supplied to schools across Brazil using Userful Multiplier software, a system which effectively turns one computer into up to 10 independent PC workstations, reducing CO2 emissions by up to an estimate 15 tons per year per system and electronic waste by up to 80%. Read More
Apple updates Mac mini and iMac
By David Greig
00:10 March 5, 2009 PST
The second major product announcement from the folks at Apple this week is an update to its iMac® and Mac® mini desktop lines, including a 24-inch iMac. At the same recommended retail price as the previous generation 20-inch model, the 24-inch iMac update offers 30 percent more screen real estate and has twice the memory and twice the storage while the Mac mini boasts new integrated graphics. Read More
Apple introduces new Mac Pro
By Darren Quick
20:47 March 3, 2009 PST
In news that won’t shock any Apple fans worth their salt, the company has announced a new Nehalem based Mac Pro that features a next-generation system architecture to deliver up to twice the performance of a previous generation system – all while managing to cut the price by USD$300 for the standard base system. Read More
Sandisk ships sleek USB readers
By David Greig
19:09 February 27, 2009 PST
SanDisk has announced that it has shipped the latest editions of its popular SanDisk ImageMate® memory card readers to retailers in North America and they are available for purchase at this time. The new readers are smaller and sleeker than their predecessors and featuring upgraded software applications, the new All-In-One and Multi-Card readers quickly and conveniently transfer data between a wide range of memory card formats and a host computer. Read More
OWC updates Quad Interface external Blu-ray drive range to 8x
By Matt Kennedy
22:16 February 26, 2009 PST
Other World Computing (OWC), known to many of us as macsales.com, has added an 8x Blu-ray drive to the Mercury Pro external Blu-ray/SuperDrive line - currently the only “Quad Interface” (FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB 2.0, & eSATA) equipped Blu-ray drives on the market. Read More
Apple ups browser power with Safari 4 Beta release
By Darren Quick
21:49 February 25, 2009 PST
Apple might have one of the coolest personal communications devices on the planet at the moment in the iPhone, but in the browser wars their Safari offering is struggling with statistics showing Firefox and Internet Explorer usage way out in front, and even Google’s recently released Chrome overtaking it. In a bid to rectify that Apple has released a public beta of Safari 4 for OS X and Windows with claims it runs JavaScript over four times faster than its predecessor, 30 times faster than Internet Explorer 7, six times faster than Internet Explorer 8 and up to four times faster than Firefox 3.1 thanks to its new Nitro engine. Read More
New software promises 25% productivity increase for estimators
By Mike Hanlon
20:49 February 23, 2009 PST
Construction software specialist On Center recently unveiled its Digital Takeoff Table solution at the World of Concrete industry tradeshow in Las Vegas. The Digital Takeoff Table integrates the company's On-Screen Takeoff® program with a Wacom tablet to enable estimators to draw digital “takeoffs” directly onto the screen with Wacom's cordless, battery-free pen. Estimators currently using the company's software are forecasting an additional productivity increase of 25 percent with the new system. Read More
Orbita Wireless Mouse: the scroll-wheel takes over
19:32 February 22, 2009 PST
The design of the trusty mouse has come a long way from its humble beginnings forty years ago and throughout its many incarnations it has remained a staple for any personal computer user. The latest spin on this ever necessary peripheral – and we do mean spin – is the Orbita Mouse. This new take on the mouse basically becomes the scroll wheel traditionally found between the left and right buttons. Read More
SanDisk & Toshiba Flash memory advances
By Darren Quick
22:22 February 11, 2009 PST
The cooperative relationship between SanDisk and Toshiba in the development and manufacturing of advanced Flash memory is producing results with the companies announcing key technology advances at the International Solid State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) in San Francisco, California. The advances include the production of a 32-gigabit (Gb) 3-bits-per-cell (X3) memory chip that is expected to quickly enable greater capacities and reduce manufacturing costs for products ranging from memory cards to Solid State Drives (SSD). The companies also announced the fabrication of the world’s first 64Gb chip that applies 4-bit-per-cell (X4) technology without an increase in chip size, while achieving a write speed performance of 7.8MB/s. Read More
7 ways to optimize Firefox 3 for a better browsing experience on your netbook
By Tim Hanlon
22:54 February 10, 2009 PST
There's three common complaints about netbooks. Small (and quirky) keyboard layouts, not enough horsepower, of course, the screen resolution - or lack thereof. We can't do much about your keyboard, but here's five ways to free up many of the wasted pixels of a stock Firefox 3 installation and browse the web painlessly on a small screen - plus a couple of bonus tips on how to make the most out of your low-powered CPU. Read More
MAINGEAR Remix Workstation for creative professionals
By Darren Quick
20:27 February 10, 2009 PST
Although Apple Macs are the most commonly used computers for creative professionals, there are still many IT departments which insist on a PC. Aimed specifically at this market that spend their days doing graphic design, video production or pro audio is MAINGEAR’s Remix Creative Workstation PC. The system features NVIDIA Quadro CX graphics card, which NVIDIA specifically designed and optimized to significantly enhance the performance of Adobe Creative Suite 4. Read More
Last chance to download the Windows 7 beta
By Tim Hanlon
18:50 February 8, 2009 PST
If you're interested in downloading the Windows 7 beta, but haven't found the time to do so yet, we recommend you do so right now, as Microsoft will be closing the beta program within a few days. Read More
How to install Windows 7 on an IdeaPad S10 (or other netbook) without a DVD drive
By Tim Hanlon
18:35 February 8, 2009 PST
So you want to install the Windows 7 beta on your IdeaPad S10, or another netbook without an optical drive. A Google search will turn up hundreds of guides, but we've read nearly all of them, and they either assume you have access to a Windows Vista machine, are needlessly complicated, or just plain don't work. This guide might not have pretty pictures guiding you along the way, and you'll need to deal with a command prompt, but hey - it works. Read More
Buffalo LinkStation Mini SSD - Solid State NAS device fits in the palm of your hand
By Mike Hanlon
22:22 February 6, 2009 PST
Buffalo Technology today launched the LinkStation Mini SSD, the world’s first Network Attached Storage (NAS) Solid State Drive (SSD) device for consumers. The LinkStation Mini SSD weighs 0.5 kg (1.1 pounds), has a capacity of 240GB and a built-in DNLA media server that allows users to seamlessly stream movies to a PC, Mac, multi-media device or DNLA supported TV. It also has built-in WebAccess™ providing users with access to all their digital media files via the Internet from their PC, Mac or iPhone, from anywhere in the world. Read More
iDrive portable HDD provides online backup option
By Darren Quick
21:27 February 5, 2009 PST
In the days of yore people were forced to backup their precious data on floppy disks, CDs or magnetic tape. Nowadays people looking to protect data have a much wider and more convenient range of options. The iDrive gives users that little extra bit of security by combining portable hard drive and online backup in on package. Read More
Samsung develops 4Gb DRAM chip: 32GB DIMMs around the corner
By Tim Hanlon
22:15 February 2, 2009 PST
Samsung Electronics has developed the first four gigabit DRAM memory chip using its 50 nanometer technology. 16GB modules using the 4Gb chips use 40% less power than previous DDR3 modules thanks to higher density and half the number of chips. Read More
NewerTech offers cheap, fast wireless solution
By Darren Quick
21:19 January 29, 2009 PST
The MAXPower 802.11g/b Wireless USB 2.0 Stick Adapter from NewerTech is a Plug and Play 802.11g/b wireless adapter that enables owners of USB 2.0/1.1 equipped Macs and PCs that haven’t yet gone wireless to affordably upgrade to wireless home and office networking. The solution is designed for Macintosh desktop and notebook computers, such as PowerMac G4, iMac G4, PowerBook G3/G4 and iBook G3 models that didn't include built in wireless or have a non-working AirPort card. Read More
Super Talent 64GB SSD upgrade for Asus S101 Eee Netbook
By Mike Hanlon
15:03 January 28, 2009 PST
Flash storage manufacturer Super Talent is now offering a 64GB Solid State Drive (SSD) specially designed as an upgrade for the Asus S101 Eee netbook PC. The Windows S101 netbook has just 16GB of local storage as standard, so the US$169 upgrade 64 GB SSD can quadruple the storage capacity inside a few minutes, while offering ballistic read and write speeds of 90/55 MB/sec respectively. Read More
WD launches industry’s first 2 TB hard drive
By Mike Hanlon
03:03 January 28, 2009 PST
WD today announced the first 2 terabyte hard drive – the world’s highest capacity drive and the latest addition to the WD Caviar Green hard drive family. The drive is likely to become hot property due to ever increasing need for hard disk space – already in the United States, some ten percent of 3.5-inch hard drive sales are 1 TB or more. Read More
Cayin's new dual-display digital signage player
By Mike Hanlon
03:35 January 24, 2009 PST
Taiwanese digital signage specialist Cayin Technology, will release SMP-WEBDUO, the most advanced model among web-based digital signage players, at Integrated Systems Europe 2009 in Amsterdam in February. SMP-WEBDUO not only employs most functions from the SMP-WEB series but also supports full HD video and dual display simultaneously. Read More
Happy birthday to the Apple Macintosh
By Mike Hanlon
19:46 January 23, 2009 PST
This day 25 years ago, the Apple Macintosh Personal Computer went on sale. Two days prior, during Super Bowl XVIII, Apple aired its 1984 television commercial produced by Ridley Scott, creating massive public interest in the new product. It was the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface rather than a command line interface. That’s the original Mac advert at right. Get well Steve! Read More
Hands-on with the Gravitonus iClubby ergonomic workstation
By Mike Hanlon
23:46 January 22, 2009 PST
January 23, 2009 Desks were designed before computers existed and they have largely dictated the way we configure our working environment. A lot of journalists are viewing the new Gravitonus iClubby as a workstation for gamers, but in my mind, it’s a lot more than that. Perhaps it’s time to reappraise exactly what a workstation should look like, because after trying it at CES, I want one, and I only spend a very small proportion of my time gaming. The fully ergonomic seating position, three screens, the sound system and lighting and temperature controls makes it the ideal high productivity workstation for anyone who spends long hours slaving over a hot keyboard . At $7000 it isn’t cheap, but it’s VERY comfortable, and I suspect the increased productivity afforded by the comfort and increased concentration would yield an ROI measured in months, not years, and there’s no price you can put on a bad back and aching shoulders. Read More
The Yu Type: salvation for two-fingered typists
By Mike Hanlon
16:18 January 19, 2009 PST
January 20, 2009 This product makes a lot of sense – a goodly proportion of the people we know are two-fingered typists. In the world of programming, we’d hesitate to suggest the percentage of hunt-and-peckers is close to 100 percent. This creates stress ion the eyes and slows the input rates significantly, as we (yes, guilty) constantly need to refocus on the keys of the keyboard then move our focus to the screen and back again and again …. The Yu Type is a compact computer peripheral that sits on the keyboard in the user’s eyeline, displaying words as they are typed. Designed to improve speed and accuracy, it avoids the need for less accomplished typists to keep switching their focus from keyboard to monitor. Read More
ioSafe Solo: the world's first affordable high capacity disaster proof hard drive
By Mike Hanlon
01:41 January 14, 2009 PST
Ya call that a hard disk? This is a real hard disk - it’ll withstand fires up to 1550 degrees Fahrenheit and can be submersed in salt water for three days and it’ll still protect its precious data. The ioSafe Solo offers disaster protection to a price range that everyone can afford with capacities from 500GB for US$150 through to 1.5TB for US$300 based on the introductory pricing and it’s an enormously compelling proposition if you have data that’s irreplaceable. It isn’t portable, with a weight of 15 pounds and dimensions of 5x7.1x11 inches but it’s just the ticket for that priceless customer database, or the family photo album. Read More
SanDisk announces world's fastest SSD
By Tim Hanlon
17:32 January 13, 2009 PST
Hard drives have been the bottleneck in modern PC performance for some time now, and while SSD technology has led to new levels of performance, the price point has left a lot to be desired. Enter SanDisk, with a new range of SSDs based on multi-level cell (MLC) NAND flash memory. SanDisk claims their G3 SSDs are twice as fast as prior SSDs and over five times as fast as the fastest 7200RPM HDD, with sequential performance of 200MB/s read and 140MB/s write. The price? Just over US$2 a gigabyte. Read More
Freedom Glen
- November 25, 2009 @ 02:47 UTC
