Archive for October, 2009
New Sony Ericsson Rachael UI video hits, still looks nothing like Android
Published on October 31st, 2009.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Continue reading New Sony Ericsson Rachael UI video hits, still looks nothing like Android
Filed under: Cellphones, Software
New Sony Ericsson Rachael UI video hits, still looks nothing like Android originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 23:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFilled under latest news. No Comments.
Plowing Carbon Into the Fields
Published on October 31st, 2009.
OzPeter writes "A wheat farmer in Australia has eliminated adding fertilizer to his crop by the simple process of injecting the cooled diesel exhaust of his modified tractor into the ground when the wheat is being sown. In doing so he eliminates releasing carbon into the atmosphere and at the same time saves himself up to $500,000 (AUD) that would have been required to fertilize his 3,900 hectares in the traditional way. Yet his crop yields over the last two years have been at least on par with his best yields since 2001. The technique was developed by a Canadian, Gary Lewis of Bio Agtive, and is currently in trial at 100 farms around the world."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filled under latest news. No Comments.
ATI’s dual-GPU Radeon HD 5970 pictured in the wilderness
Published on October 31st, 2009.
[Via PC Perspective]
Filed under: Desktops
ATI's dual-GPU Radeon HD 5970 pictured in the wilderness originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFilled under latest news. No Comments.
Bose Ceiling Speakers
Published on October 31st, 2009.
Although other companies have made headway in starting to break into their space, I think everyone would still agree that Bose is still viewed by the general public as the King of Sound. They seemed to come out of virtually nowhere back in the 90’s, when they first hit the scene in a big, big way. They are one of many great speaker companies who hail from the Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts, area, this being due to the fact of such great schools like MIT and Harvard being anchored there. In fact, I believe it is still true to this day that all MIT students get a generous discount on all their Bose speakers because the founder went to school there.
Anyway, I digress. Here we are going to take a look at Bose’ offering of ceiling speakers, and we will ask the question: is Bose still king? Are they still getting it right, even in the small space of in-wall or in-ceiling sound systems?
One can’t help but notice the perfectly named Virtually Invisible 191 series that this company has now put out there. It is everyone’s dream to have invisible speakers. I know because it is my dream, too. I love how the music and sound and movie sound effects can just surprise the heck out of you. Many times Bose has caused me to ask of a sound: where is that coming from!?
The Virtually Invisibles blend right into your ceiling. They don’t stick out at all; they are flush, as the saying goes. They are billed as delivering a very wide or dispersed sound. But this is a dispersion that is spacious, not watered down. Whatever you play through them will sort of seem to be everywhere all around you. Most people don’t realize that this is the much better way to enjoy entertainment. A simple, typical TV speaker, say, will only come to you from the direction of the television itself, cutting down on the reality factor of whatever program one might be watching. We have it so ingrained in us to discount this factor that we forget what the true purpose of entertainment is in the first place: to make us think it is real and to take us on a ride. So in this regard, Bose Virtually Invisible ceiling speakers have got things way right. They will surround you.
The 191’s will also allow easy play from both a surround system and the stereo, covering all bases. It is really important to make sure that your ceiling speakers are going to actually have the capability to handle whatever input you are planning on feeding through them. It is equally important that they handle that input with a real deftness; nothing less should be tolerated in this post-expansion era in the industry. Believe me, these guys know how to manufacture an amazing speaker for a lot less than they ever could before. Make sure you feel you are getting a good value for your dollar and you will never regret your purchase. These are really great pieces of technology.
Will writes about consumer electronics and good cheap speakers on his blog.
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Navigate With the Navigon 8110
Published on October 31st, 2009.
The Navigon 8110 ViaMichelin is one of the best sat nav systems I have used. His strengths lie in the ease of use and location, where it scores consistently high scores.
Core specs are listed as Panorama View3D, Reality View, Voice Recognition, Lane Assistant, Latest-generation Bluetooth, Digital Photo Album, MP3 Player, FM Radio Transmitter, Text-to-speech4, and more than 2 million points of interest, all of which we took for a spin! We enjoyed playing will this array of features, it has to me said. On the Navigon, you get Bluetooth, Text to speech, European maps, free Traffic updates via Trafficmaster and two years of free map updates via FreshMaps. There’s the obligatory photo viewer and mp3 player. Come on though, does anyone actually use them?
The 8110 ViaMichelin is a little trickier to install than other systems, Best Buy, but it is very easy to program to change the route mid-trip.
It has a very slim wall mount, which is quite large, but the project sat nav away from the windshield and in a good position for the driver with minimal impact or visual disability.
Along with the great mountain, the unusually large screen (123mm), with widescreen format, makes it difficult to stow away when not in use. However, it is clear graphics are generally easy to read as are the fonts. While the schemes are quite good some of them are a little smaller than would be ideal.
Navigon This model features an advanced warning track, help you select the appropriate lane when you encounter a complicated intersection, it is provided a ring or a busy city intersection.
It comes with UK speed camera data and traffic avoidance, which both provided free of charge. We tested the ViaMichelin version, in which points of interest are pre-loaded, including the Michelin restaurants and hotels. Navigon tells us it is a standard version of 8110, not the benefit of the ViaMichelin will have functions.
The large, easily readable display, accurate and fast route recalculation if you make the wrong direction, this a great unit to take, to have.
One of the key features is the full featured sat-nav design from Navigon. The 8110 is the best answer to your navigation requirements. 4.8 “screen, integrated TMC, FM transmit, Bluetooth, European maps and really smart software that every journey into an exquisite pleasure. Speed Wizard will guide you safely, Lane assistant helps you in traffic, support for 3D-view you see the terrain, and speech recognition allows you to select your destination. Synchronize your Outlook address book. Connect your MP3 library. The 8110 is really your best friend.
The only drawback is the large body mount bracket and make storage clumsy, and some cases of misrepresentation speed limit.
This gps is a joy to use. Clear display, good navigation and calculated a route very quickly. Accurate maps, good navigation and recalculation. Speed limit and cameras seem to be on site. This unit is easy to use with clear display and intuitive programming. It is an excellent navigator, that covers all the bases for basic navigation and adds, almost all the extras you can imagine.
Elmo Populous is an electronics enthusiast and reviewer. He particularly enjoys reviewing sat nav systems and really liked the Navigon 8110 gps unit.
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Take a Trip With the TomTom One Europe
Published on October 31st, 2009.
This Best Buy TomTom introduces very competent in all areas and is an exceptional value for money. It does not work with a large screen like some other Best Buys to come, but even so, his visual and sound advice well.
TomTom One is the best-selling model in the UK. As the name implies, this derivation is operational and with maps of Europe, asking for many more expensive models are extra loaded.
If you are averse to traffic, you can subscribe to traffic management, but you’ll need a mobile phone to activate this function.
It has also in the city and called the Congestion Charge zone, when we said we wanted to go this route, and succeeded the route when we took the wrong track. But there’s no announcement to say that it has happened - so if you do not discover your mistake, you cannot even be aware that you have gone wrong in the first place.
It manages two or more statements in quick succession and to resistance against thieves; it comes with security PIN protection.
TomTom ONE combines ease of use, portability, touch screen technology and a sleek new design. The driver can see the benefits of a TomTom ONE immediately, thanks to TomTom’s award-winning plug and drive navigation software to be installed on a memory card to enjoy.
This means that there is no need to download complicated software, just plug and ready to use. TomTom ONE comes with the latest maps of Western Europe.
This TomTom introduces very competent in all areas and is an exceptional value for money. It does not work with a large screen like some other great units but even so, his visual and sound advice well.
TomTom One is the best-selling model in the UK. And this package comes with maps of Great Britain - but a European package is also available.
TomTom ONE combines ease of use, portability, touch screen technology and an elegant, unmistakable new design.
Drivers can enjoy the benefits of a TomTom ONE immediately, thanks to TomTom’s award-winning plug and drive navigation software pre-installed on a memory card.
This means there is no need to download complicated software, just plug in and start using. TomTom ONE comes with the latest regional maps of your Country/Region.
The TomTom One is an entry level system which is hitting the market at around £199 and rounding out the range of navigation offerings from TomTom. The core of the new One is the renowned SiRFStarIII GPS chipset with a 266MHz CPU and 32Mb of memory. This powers a 3.5 inch TFT LCD touch screen display with 64k colours.
If you are averse to traffic, you can subscribe to traffic management, but you’ll need a mobile phone to activate this function.
Included are: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Vatican City. With TomTom ONE is really any way from A to B!
This device is easy to install and easy to use are provided, double-crossing directions, good re-routing, and is protected by a PIN.
Elmo Populous is an electronics enthusiast and reviewer. He particularly enjoys reviewing sat nav systems and really liked the TomTom One Europe gps unit.
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Laziness on the move: robot plays Rock Band on the iPhone
Published on October 31st, 2009.
[Via Daily Mobile]
Continue reading Laziness on the move: robot plays Rock Band on the iPhone
Filed under: Cellphones, Robots
Laziness on the move: robot plays Rock Band on the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFilled under latest news. No Comments.
My Top Notch Garmin Nuvi 765T
Published on October 31st, 2009.
The Garmin N
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Microsoft’s Lost Decade
Published on October 31st, 2009.
theodp writes "Newsweek's Daniel Lyons (that's Fake Steve to you) explains why Steve Ballmer is no Bill Gates, arguing that what most hurt Microsoft was BillG's decision to step down as CEO in January 2000: 'Gates was a software geek. He understood technology. Ballmer is a business guy.' And the problem with putting non-techies in charge of tech companies, concludes Lyons, is that they have blind spots. So while Microsoft's revenues nearly tripled from $23B to $58B on Ballmer's watch, says Lyons, the company became bureaucratic and lumbering, slowing down while the rest of the world — including Google, Apple and Amazon — sped up."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filled under latest news. No Comments.
Getting About With the Garmin Nuvi 265
Published on October 31st, 2009.
The Garmin Nuvi 265 is so precisely calculated at the best SA NAVs and reacts fast when the driver goes in the wrong direction.
It is easy to mount to the screen, and it is also dash-mountable, for those that do not obscure the view through the screen. It is easy to program and the menu system is clear.
The Garmin n
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Show me the Way my TomTom GO 740 LIVE
Published on October 31st, 2009.
The TomTom GO 740 LIVE performs very well and is easy to use, with clear, bright and friendly Menus. It is precisely your destination and the spoken street names and traffic reports.
As an option for the Go-Live-X40 series, you will receive current TomTom Traffic service. If you buy the gps, you will receive free three-month trial and then it comes as part of the EUR 7, 99 live service subscription. Subscribers get access to the pioneering IQ Routes technology, which uses the data from Vodafone users to monitor traffic throughout the country, produced Updates every three minutes.
The data is used in anonymous form, but there are real-time information on traffic jams and obstructions, so that each unit to optimize the routes for each user. Further information for participants are provided fuel prices (all prices are in the region and lead you to the cheapest), a local search with Google, and a 5-day weather forecast service for the area in which you are travelling.
A “Reality View” function, you can know which track you should at motorway junctions.
The speech recognition feature extends beyond mere programming of the address - so you are completely hands-free program. But certain phrases to be learned in order to use them effectively. The list of records is stored on the TomTom though, so the user does not need the manual to learn about them.
It comes installed with Western European mapping as standard. TomTom ONE combines ease of use, portability, touch screen technology and a sleek new design.
The driver can benefit from a TomTom ONE immediately, thanks to TomTom’s award-winning plug and drive navigation software to be installed on a memory card to enjoy.
This means that there is no need to download complicated software, just plug and ready to use. TomTom ONE also features the latest regional maps of your country / region. With TomTom ONE is really any way from A to B.
It looks fantastic, sleek lines and n
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Beware of Counterfeit Printer Ink
Published on October 31st, 2009.
Selling and manufacturing of cartridges is considered the fastest growing business in the market nowadays, as most of the people now use computers either at home or office. Already used printer ink cartridges can be used for printer ink refilling or recycling them into their components. Because of these need a lot of people manufacture printer inks that are fake and low quality.
Companies manufacturing cartridges for computer printers prefer manufacturing new ones rather than reusing and recycling the cartridges. There are some companies that refill cartridges with lower quality printer ink due to the increase in the need for ink cartridges. Sham manufacturers take advantage of this trend. To save some extra money, people try to buy these low quality inks instead of buying the better quality. Low quality and fake inks can cause spongy or explosion of cartridges, and can also cause permanent damage to the computer printer. Fake ink cartridges are cheaper than original inks so companies manufacture these inks easily to increase their profit without thinking of the disadvantages it can cause the consumers.
Productions of these fake ink and toner cartridges are rampant all-over the world. It has been reported that the largest counterfeit ink suppliers can be found in Asian countries like China, Malaysia and some are also found in Latin American countries. Below are a few tips that can help you select the best printer ink and avoid counterfeit or fake printer inks for your computer.
• Search in the internet to get the list of all authorized and genuine dealers and manufacturers of printer ink. It is best to buy only from these authorized dealers or manufacturers to avoid being swindled.
• It is important to have some knowledge about the current prices of the original cartridge printer inks before purchasing. It will also help you select the better quality of printer ink in the market. This can help you compare prices and the quality of printer ink.
• Inspect the packaging of the printer ink before purchasing. Counterfeit cartridge printer inks are packaged in a different way. There is a big difference in the packaging of these products. Fake manufacturers cannot always copy the exact packaging of the original ones, you can always see some flaws.
• The sham ink cartridges dry quickly compared to the original inks. Low quality printer inks dries up quickly so you spend a lot of money to nothing, whereas if you buy quality printer ink, you can save money.
• They also differ in color with the original inks. In fake ink cartridges, the nozzle has to be cleaned frequently. In sham printer inks the color of your printed document is poor in quality.
• These fake ink cartridges also create problems, like for example leakage and blots creating a mess on the document you are printing. Fake printer inks can make your printed documents messy and poor in quality.
These tips can help anyone avoid accidentally purchasing fake printer ink cartridges from the retail stores and distributors and can save your printer from being damaged. Wise consumer decision can save consumers money as well as effort, thus prevent your equipments from possible damage.
Visit us for the best printer ink guide. You can also visit our review site of the cheapest printer ink places in the US.
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
Internet Directories – Their History and Importance
Published on October 31st, 2009.
When the Internet first began growing in popularity as a search tool, directories, not search engines, led the way.
With Yahoo and DMOZ in the forefront these directories used human editors to catalog the web – a daunting task. Website owners and Internet marketers would submit their websites to these directories. Included in the submission would be a little information about the site and the category under which the site should be ‘filed’ or indexed.
Obviously the waiting lists to get into these directories could be very, very long. Yahoo tried solving this by charging to have your website submission reviewed by an editor. This policy, while workable, left out a lot of the little guys who could not afford $299 just to have their site looked at with no guarantee of inclusion. DMOZ (also known as the Open Directory Project) never charged for submission and still doesn’t. Although nobody I have ever heard of uses DMOZ to actually search the web they are still around because a) they lease their database to other directories and search engines and b) by now they have such a long-standing reputation that being listed in DMOZ and Yahoo for that matter can do a great deal for your search engine rankings.
As the Internet kept growing a quicker way was needed to find and index the thousands upon thousands of websites sprouting up all over the world. Search engines such as “Archie” were already being developed. These search engines use software programs called “spiders’ or “crawlers” to go through the Internet following from link to link finding and indexing web pages. This is why linking is such a vital tool in search engine optimization.
Even with search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Ask getting most of the search traffic directories still serve vital functions.
You may have noticed when searching for certain things on one of the major search engines you will see directories on the first page of the results. This is often the case with a search for something local or regional. It can also come up if you are looking for a specific professional such as a doctor or lawyer.
The directories that come up as a result of a user search are an additional method of organizing the fantastic amount of information on the web.
These directories are important to both visitors and website owners and as a website owner you will want to have your website listed in as many directories as possible.
Being in directories offers two important benefits to you as a website owner.
You will get traffic and visitors from the directories themselves.
The links you get can prove vital to your search engine rankings.
Search engines find websites based on links from other sites. The more sites that link to yours the better chance each page of your website has to be found and ranked well by the search engines. This is why it’s important to get listed in as many SEO friendly directories as you can. It can help both traffic and rankings.
Meridith Berk is one of the founders of UltimateSitePromotion.com one of the oldest and most respected Search Engine Optimizing and Pay Per Click Management firms on the Internet. To find out more about how to optimize your site you can visit her site at http://ultimatesitepromotion.com
Filled under Internet. No Comments.
iPhone and Windows 7 don’t play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame
Published on October 31st, 2009.
[Via The Register]
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops
iPhone and Windows 7 don't play nice, Intel P55 chipset to blame originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsFilled under latest news. No Comments.
Zombies As American Zeitgeist Proxies
Published on October 31st, 2009.
blackbearnh writes "No doubt, there will be more than a few brain-munching glassy-eyed zombies showing up on the typical doorstep tonight, demanding brains, brains, brains, or at least some Milk Duds. But according to this essay over on Forbes.com, zombies are more than just the trendy monster on the block, they are to Americans what Godzilla is to Japanese: a personification of our fear of science and technology. 'It seems you can't throw a half-eaten cerebrum these days without hitting a posse of zombies brought to life by some kind of biological mishap (28 Days Later, Resident Evil, Planet Terror, Quarantine). Like Godzilla, zombies keep up with the times, always ready to mirror whatever aspect of science and technology people feel most uncertain about at the moment.'"Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filled under latest news. No Comments.
Engadget Podcast 169 - 10.31.2009
Published on October 31st, 2009.
WARNING: This podcast has been known to kill people. Engadget assumes no responsibility for injury or death.
[Thanks, JS and Rom for the image]
Hosts: Joshua Topolsky, Nilay Patel, Paul Miller
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Song: ChangWang2003 - 99 Problems (Battletoads Remix)
Hear the podcast
00:01:28 - Motorola DROID review
00:19:08 - HTC confirmed to be cooking up Android 2.0 update for Hero, other devices unclear
00:19:19 - Android 2.0 ported to original T-Mobile G1 (video)
00:19:29 - HTC Droid Eris peeks its head out once more, shows off 5MP camera
00:30:48 - Google Navigation video hands-on: you want this
00:32:25 - The game has changed
00:37:18 - How-to: hack your own DROID dock with magnets and cardboard
00:41:20 - Storm2 now available from Verizon for those who waited
00:49:25 - Nintendo DSi LL goes large in Japan on November 21 (update: DSi XL in Europe Q1)
00:53:41 - Netflix for PlayStation 3 requires a disc, software solution coming late 2010
00:57:28 - Apple TV 3.0 software update is out, with iTunes Extras, LP & Genius in tow
01:06:23 - Nokia vs. Apple: the in-depth analysis
01:06:40 - How-to: recycle your old gadgets
Subscribe to the podcast
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (enhanced AAC).
[RSS MP3] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.
[RSS AAC] Add the Engadget Podcast feed (in enhanced AAC) to your RSS aggregator.
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace
Download the podcast
LISTEN (MP3)
LISTEN (AAC)
LISTEN (OGG)
Contact the podcast
1-888-ENGADGET or podcast (at) engadget (dot) com.
Twitter: @joshuatopolsky @futurepaul @reckless @engadget
Filed under: Podcasts
Engadget Podcast 169 - 10.31.2009 originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsFilled under latest news. No Comments.
Specific Features of Fax Machines
Published on October 31st, 2009.
Fax machines are communication equipment that sends copies of documents in any part of the world in just a few minutes. These electronic devices are mostly used in many business establishments because of its distinct features.
Fax machines are electronic devices capable of transmitting and receiving copies of different documents to any place through the use of a telephone line. This communication advancement enabled people around the world to exchange documents in real time in contrast to a postal mail.
This equipment is equipped with a scanner which copies or digitized documents which can then be transmitted to its built-in modem. The scanner equipped with fax machines is not of the same quality in resolution compared to stand-alone scanners. It also has a printer which prints documents that have been sent by other parties. Fax machine uses thermal paper in printing documents.
Devices capable of transmitting documents electronically have been used during the 19th century but it was only in 1970 that the fax machines we know today were recognized as a great innovation.
These were first popularized in Japan because of their advancement in electronic technology. In later years, the market cost decreased and paved the way for easier accessibility until it became a fixture in homes and offices.
The demand for fax machines significantly increased in the 1980s especially among the business sectors. This was due to its great feature that effectively transmits documents in a fraction of time. It was recognized as an economical, reliable and time saving method of communication.
In 1983 the standard protocol for faxing has been adopted with the rate of 9,600 bits per second, officially called as Group 3 standard. There are two classes of resolutions supported by the Group 3 protocol, the 203 x 196 dpi and 203 x 98 dpi. These were developed by Comite Consultatif International Telephonique et Telegraphique or CCITT, the organization responsible in setting international standards for communications.
There are certain features that differentiate one model to the other. The first one is in terms of speed. The speed rate determines how fast a fax machine can transmit one whole page of document. The most common rates are between 4,800 bps to about 28,800 bps. Typically, a fax machine with a speed of 9,600 bps can transmit one page of document for about 10 to 20 seconds.
Another feature is the type of printer. The most common among fax machines is the thermal printer. This type needs a special paper for printing. The printout easily fades over time. To remedy this problem, faxed documents are photocopied immediately after being received. More advanced fax machines have improved to address this issue and are capable of using ordinary bond paper in printing.
These are also equipped with paper cutters since thermal papers usually come with rollers attached to the rear of the machine. Older models do not have a paper cutter.
Additional features include a paper feeder for continuous sending of multiple documents and autodialing. Some can be programmed to send a document at a certain time.
The introduction of the Internet was a major competition for the faxing technology. However, many of the business sector still use fax machines due to its distinct feature. Fax machines can transmit highly sensitive documents in accordance to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Sarbanes Oxley which mandates the privacy of information of an individual. Sending such information through the Internet is not secured.
Another major advantage is its capability of copying the exact signatures of contracts or other documents which make it still a popular choice in the business sector. This is an important feature in other countries. Electronic signatures in documents are not considered valid unlike fax transmitted documents.
For more information on Fax Machines and Buying Fax Machine.Please visit our website.
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
ICANN Might Pre-Register gTLDs To Placate Critics
Published on October 31st, 2009.
judgecorp writes "ICANN is to be congratulated for succeeding in expanding the Internet beyond the Latin alphabet. However, the organization is facing a harder task in extending the Internet's global top-level domains (gTLDs) — its proposal to open up the gTLD space has been plagued by controversy and delays. INCANN faces struggles with trademark owners and competing businesses — but even so it is being criticised for acting slowly (as seen in transcripts from the recent meeting in Seoul). It now seems likely the body will have a pre-registration scheme to gauge demand and placate critics by getting something moving on new gTLDs."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filled under latest news. No Comments.
The Acer Netbook
Published on October 31st, 2009.
An Acer Netbook is a laptop computer that’s especially designed to be portable and easy to use. The Acer Group creates the brands Acer, eMachines, Packard Bell and Gateway, and is the 3rd largest PC company, as well as the second largest for notebook computers, including their netbooks.
Acer started with the Acer Aspire One, its first netbook designed to compete on a market that began with Asus Eee PC computers. These original mini-laptops took the market by storm, and the Acer Aspire One was Acer’s answer to the growing demand for small, lightweight laptops that were portable and had better battery life than standard laptops.
An Acer Netbook is now offered in one of 3 screen sizes, instead of the original 8.9″ screen. Now you can opt for a slightly larger 10.1″ or an 11.6″ screen for a larger viewing area. The earliest netbooks were often criticized for their screen size, even though the entire computers were so compact. An 11.6″ screen helps give a more full-size feeling to the screen, while maintaining the compact size and easy portability netbooks are known for. You can choose a 1024 x 600 resolution WSVGA resolution screen, or opt for a HD WXGA 1366 x 768 resolution with an LED-backlit display.
An Acer Netbook weighs less than 3 pounds. If you’ve ever carried around a full-size laptop that wasn’t a very inexpensive featherweight model, then you can appreciate the idea of a laptop that weighs less than 3 pounds! You also have a choice in battery size, which will of course affect battery life. Models with a 3-cell battery cost less, but the 6-cell battery increases the run time dramatically.
Each Acer Netbook contains some type of Atom processor, a top processor from Intel that was made for small devices. Because of netbooks’ portability, people want to be able to use them at length on the go, and there’s not always a way to plug them in every couple of hours. The Atom processor helps the battery last much longer, because it uses much less power than other types of processors. Intel’s popular Core 2 Duo processor uses almost 10 times more power than an Atom processor, making the Atom ideal for netbooks.
You can choose a less expensive Acer Netbook, or opt to pay a little more, by choosing different operating systems, hard drives and memory. Windows operating systems installed cost a little more than a Linux operating system, for instance. And you can choose hard drives ranging from about 80 Gig to 250 Gig, with larger storage commanding a higher price. Choose between 1GB and 2GB of memory–keeping in mind that more memory is always better, as it speeds operation.
You can choose from a variety of colors to suit your taste, and then enjoy using your Acer Netbook on the go, with its built-in Wi-Fi, web browsing, webcam and things like media player and picture viewers. These compact laptops let you compute on the go without lugging around a heavy laptop or paying thousands of dollars for a light model.
Dane Taylor is a computer hardware and software guru. He writes PC, laptop and netbook reviews for many PC trades and teaches online computer courses.
Filled under Computers and Technology. No Comments.
A Clever New Approach To Desalination
Published on October 31st, 2009.
jbeaupre writes "The Economist reports on progress by a company called Saltworks on using saline gradients to do the heavy lifting of desalination. In essence, Saltworks uses solar energy or waste heat to concentrate sea water. They then use the ionic gradient between the concentrated brine and two sea-water streams to pull ions from from a 3rd sea-water stream. It appears to work with entropy by trading the reduced entropy of the desalinated water against the increased entropy of 'mixing' the brine and the other sea-water streams. The article only discusses Na and Cl, but even just removing these ions is a step in the right direction."Read more of this story at Slashdot.
Filled under latest news. No Comments.