With the except of the Tegra and Ion platforms, we haven’t been hearing much from NVIDIA in terms of graphics cards lately.  Mobile graphics are certainly important, but we still need great graphic cards on our desktops or laptops.  Screenshots leaked on a Chinese message board show that NVIDIA is definitely working on fantastic graphics with the new Fermi hardware.

The new graphic cards look to be able to render very realistic faces as well as realistic hair, lighting, and reflections.  The captions on the pictures claim the new chips are “the most advanced GPU computing architecture ever built,” and given the results that could be hard to argue.  The chips themselves will hold up to 512 separate cores to process all of the graphics.  Word is these new chips, probably the NVIDIA GeForce 300 series could be out by the end of the year.

These new chips, should the leaks prove to be true, will likely be expensive though the performance should be worth the price.  Paired with a Core i7 CPU, machines packing these new Fermi GPUs should be able to do just about anything.  GPU-accelerated programs like Photoshop CS4 will benefit greatly and experience very little slow down, if any.  Even if they end up being priced too highly, there’s always that fact the the current chips will more than likely go down in price, making great (if not the best) graphics even easier to obtain.

Read [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

This week stands out for me and my mobile phone addiction.  Big announcements in the tech world get us all excited until we stop to ask some questions.  Then we get kind of pissed off and start turning on the hype.  Behold the gems I turned up this week:

• Sears says deals won’t wait for Black Friday
• Microsoft has trust issues
• Barnes and Noble doesn’t want to start fist fights
• HTC brags about being smart

Sears says screw the calendar

Just the mention of Black Friday and shoppers pupils dilate just a bit, showing their arousal.  Sears has decided the calendar is for suckers and has started their sale this weekend.  Why not?  Our Sue Walsh explains:

Sears has announced it will be kicking off the holiday shopping season this weekend by offering special Black Friday deals.  It plans to offer those special “Black Friday Now” deals every Saturday from 7am until Christmas.

The Saturday after Christmas Sears shoppers will be welcomed by 1,000s of Abe Lincoln impersonators as the store kicks off “President’s Day Now” sale.  Feel free to move holidays around at home kids, it is the new marketing paradigm.  Somewhere, Sears marketing team is giggling at duping the American public.

Microsoft says manufacturers can’t be trusted

Our Heather Wood posted about Microsoft’s Signature PCs: “When you usually buy a PC, you have to spend time removing all of the pre-installed applications on the computer.  These can include 30 day music trials, limited anti-virus protection software and photo editing tools you probably will never use.  On these signature PCs, no crapware or trials will be included. “

Instead, Microsoft Signature PCs that they are selling direct to consumers will have only the basics installed.  The take-away from this is Microsoft is attempting to control the experience consumers have with their products.  Clearly, MS feels the crapware festival that greets most new owners is less than stellar.

It is a good move for MS but you’ve got to wonder, if companies pay to get crapware there in the first place, will prices go up?  Could this start a price war between MS and manufacturers at other retailers?  This could mean the net result of MS adventures in retailing will be to lower prices in an ever-dropping market.  Sweet.

Barnes and Nobles averts reader wars

What is likely to happen when folks who love hard covers and the smell of a new book mix with internet-loving einkers?  Book fight!  Imagine volume upon volume being flung about as screams of “tree killer” and “experience killer” get flung just as hard.  It is a nightmarish scene typically reserved for winning an NBA championship.

Our Robert Nelson commented on the plan: “Personally, it seems only logical that Barnes & Noble would have at least some Nooks in stock and ready for those that want instant gratification. But that is not the case, instead it looks like only select locations will have them available to purchase and take home.”

Only a crackhead could come up with a crazy retail plan, right?  Do they really fear book fights?  Are they worried the Nook would convert masses away from physical books and drive them to their online bookstore?  Sounds like some paranoid addict is afraid of losing retail locations over this.  That’s embarrassing.

HTC brags

It’s been my experience that folks that are actually smart don’t need to say it, much less make it their new advertising campaign.  So it goes with HTC’s new “quietly brilliant” as our Robert Nelson explains:

HTC has just recently begun a new ad campaign which deems them as “Quietly Brilliant” and is simply going by the name of “You.” While some may say that the quietly brilliant part is a bit self centered, the You campaign in general appears to be offering a welcomed push at showing consumers just how nice it can be to have a smartphone.

I am quietly brilliant too.  Something along the lines of “keep your mouth shut and let everyone assume your’re an idiot vs. opening your mouth and proving it,” springs to mind.  Wait, wasn’t this the plot to “Good Will Hunting”?  Will HTC singlehandedly relaunch the career of Ben Affleck, (who was the bomb in Phantoms)?  Doubt it.

Robert focuses on the “You” side of the campaign and the “you don’t need to get a phone, you need a phone that gets you” but that troubles me.  I don’t get me.  How can I expect some engineers in Taiwan to get me?  Should I be flattered if they do?  Can I get a phone number if they do to talk about being penpals?

Either way, I find the concept disturbing.  How about you?  Do you think they get you?

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Yesterday, Dell announced that its new Latitude XT2 XFR tablet laptop is shipping.  Claiming to be world’s thinnest for a 12.1” screen at a narrow 1.5”, the laptop/tablet comes ruggedized and ready for battle.  Designed for the rigors of first responders in the field, the price tag is a sharp $3599 for the base model.

Here we are just a week after the Windows 7 launch and Dell’s new tablet says it runs Vista with XP Tablet installed in the buy information, but the Tech Specs say Windows 7.  Trying to customize the device in Dell’s packages only lead to Windows Vista options.  Windows 7 doesn’t seem to have propagated to this release.  Odd for a new release huh?

The 12.1” LED screen is impact resistant, capacitive, sunlight viewable, and is mulit-touch enabled.  A resistive screen is an option as well.  Dell will have accessories that are hot-swappable such as GPS and webcam in the coming weeks.

“The Latitude XT2 XFR is more than a laptop, it’s a key part of our mobile command and data-center solutions for field service, defense and first-responder customers,” said Paul Bell, president, Dell Global Public-Sector Business. “These unique solutions, coupled with our service model, make those communities more effective, enabling them to focus on their core missions instead of managing technology.”

The announcement does not include a shipping date as it uses future-tense for its verbs.  Know a good lawyer?

Product Page: [Dell] Press release: [Dell]

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

According to the Wall Street Journal, PC sales are expected to see a huge boost in numbers as a result of the October 22 release of Windows 7.  Initial figures are showing that the operating system is performing better than expected and should lead to an upturn in PC sales throughout the year.  Windows 7 has already generated an estimated $1.5 billion in pre-orders for Microsoft. 

Analysts believe that the earnings from Windows 7 will extend beyond the consumer market and grow in the corporate world as well.  Since little excitement was generated from Windows Vista, it is expected that many small to medium sized businesses will make the upgrade to 7.  The timing of Windows 7 could not be better for the PC industry as well with the holidays just around the corner.

Although no official numbers have been release from Microsoft, reports surfaced last week that distributors could not keep up with the demand as stock dwindled from many retail locations.

Read: [Market Watch]
Image Source: Blogs DNA

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

The biggest thing in CPU technology right now seems to be how many cores someone can fit on a chip, then how fast those cores will run.  Intel right now looks to be leading the pack with its quad-core Core i7, and rightfully so, that chip is awesome.  A new company spun out of M.I.T., Tilera, promises to multiply that number by 25, with 100 cores per chip.

Tilera is claiming that these chips will be available by early 2010, and should work with current x86 applications after a recompiling.  If that sounds foreign, just know that it will work with current applications with some slight modifications.  The chip manages to achieve 100 cores by assembling them in a grid on the chip surface, and connecting them via a mesh network.  The result should end up with a chip that can easily turn off and on the cores as needed, and still work reasonably well with existing memory.  The chips should provide enough processing power to do just about anything needed, like the Core i7.

The major downfall with Tilera’s chips is that they won’t be able to run Windows 7, or anything out right now.  With a different architecture, the Tilera chips will not be capable of running anything until an OS of some sort supports it.  Perhaps a Linux distribution (Ubuntu?) will at least get some code for the new CPUs.  If the chips are as powerful as Tilera is promising, they should be able to handle anything Linux could throw at them.  They would serve well for a server of some sort, or an ultra-powerful Linux desktop as of right now.  If nothing else, hopefully this will push Intel into getting their 80-core prototype CPU out as soon as possible.

Read [Wired]
Read [Tilera]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Plenty of people halted their purchase of a new PC in anticipation of Windows 7.  Microsoft officially launched Windows 7 yesterday, but there may be another reason to hold off on that purchase.  USB 3.0 is just around the corner.  With a theoretical speed of 5Gbps, USB 3.0 will be able to handle incredibly fast data transfers. 

Dane-Elec has several new USB 3.0 hard drives that will launch on December 11, 2009.  There are three different models:  a 2.5-inch, bus-powered hard drive with capacities of 500GB and 640GB for $179.99 and $199.99, respectively.  Desktop models with 3.5-inch hard drives will come in 500GB at $149.99 and 1TB for $199.99.  Additionally, there will be SSD versions available if retailers desire.  These will be more expensive with the 80GB model at a whopping $399 and 160GB for $799. 

The hard disk based drives are capable of write speeds at about 75-88MBps which is about 600Mbps.  While this is lower than the theoretical maximum of USB 3.0, it still about twice as fast as USB 2.0 speeds.  The SSDs were capable of 250MBps which translates to 1.56Gbps—in other words, some seriously fast transfers.

Dane-Elec also plans to launch a pair of adapters for older computers: a PCIe card for the desktop and an ExpressCard/34 USB 3.0 capable card.  Unfortunately, neither adapter will be able to bring you the maximum speeds of USB 3.0, but you still get very fast transfers.  The ExpressCard/34 maxes out at 1Gbps. 

Company Site: [Dane-Elec]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Windows 7 is scheduled to launch this week and different retailers are offering a load of specials on the operating system.  If you are interested in updating since Windows 7 has plenty of changes like Jump Lists, 64 bit support and simple Windows Search feature, you can check out some of these special offers.

Best Buy is offering a free shipping offer on customers that pre-order Windows 7.  Order the program by 11 AM on October 21, 2009 for guaranteed delivery on the 22nd. 

Cost Central has the Home upgrade for Windows 7 available for just $80.14.  This is about $40 less than most other online retailers.  This version allows for upgrades from Vista or higher.  However, the site gives ship estimates between two to three weeks.

For a better shipping option on Windows 7 and still a low price, $99.99, you should check out the site, ZipZoomFly.  The site offers shipping within 24 hours of the release date.

Allow Microsoft to update your computer for free.  If you purchased a PC with Vista installed after June 26, 2009, you may be eligible for a free upgrade.  The redemption details are included in your packaging and available through manufacturers like HP, Gateway, Sony and Dell.

Site: [Best Buy]
Site: [Cost Central]
Site: [ZipZoomFly]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Digi has announced their launch of a mobile hotspot 3G router, the Digi TransPort WR44.  This router will include Wi-Fi capabilities, GPS functionality as well as security features that promise to keep your data safe.  The router is designed for businesses that work in the transportation and sales industries or have a remote office.

You can install the Digi TransPort WR44 in public safety vehicles, buses, trains and vans.  It comes with a mounting system and has a rugged design meant to protect it from any rough handling.  The network is a Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards, so users can feel secure about processing payments through the router.  It also has multiple serial ports available, including a GPS module, four Ethernet ports and a USB port.  You can configure and edit your router settings with the included Remote Manager software.

The current retail price is $895 and you get a five year manufacturer’s warranty with your purchase.  Buying information is available through the Digi website. 

Site: [Digi]
Image Source: Digi

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

With the release of Windows 7 looming, HP is certainly bringing out everything it has both for the new OS update and holiday shopping.  First, there was the new Envy laptops, and now HP is bringing out new TouchSmarts.  However, these new machines take advantage of much more than just the Windows 7 release.

For those unaware, HP’s TouchSmart line is its collection of multitouch enabled desktops.  With the new multitouch-friendly Windows 7, new TouchSmarts were imminent.  HP promises the new computers will take full advantage of those capabilities, in addition to its slew of new partnerships.  For those who used the TouchSmart line before, the software in HPs TouchSmart experience was a bit lacking, it had media control, but only for the media stored on the computer, or local network. 

The new HP TouchSmart 300 and 600 computers will ship with software from HP’s newest partners: Pandora, Rhapsody, WildTangent, Hulu and Netflix.  Pandora will provide the music streaming that has grown so popular.  Rhapsody will provide its music library to the TouchSmart experience (subscription will still be required).  WildTangent will provide games for users.  The big announcement here, though is both Hulu and Netflix.  Hulu Desktop will ship on HP TouchSmarts (and HP is saying it’s the only place you’ll find it packaged in).  Netflix will be available through Netflix on HP, which will provide the streaming, though no mention of whether it will allow for HD or not.

As for the specs of the new machines, there’s the TouchSmart 300 which comes with and AMD Athlon II Processor (clocked at different speeds for the two models), and a 20-inch HD display.  The TouchSmart 600 ships with Intel Core 2 Duo Processors (again, different versions and speeds for the two models), with a 23-inch HD display.  Both come equipped with Blu-ray burners that can read and burn all three major optical media discs.  The computers even come with TV tuners built in and the option to connect video game consoles, so it can act as an HDTV as well as a PC.

HP TouchSmarts have always been a bit drool-worthy and these new updates makes them even more so.  There are some problems with constantly using touch on a desktop PC, but for minimal use, it should be fine.  Even so, the TouchSmart 300 and 600 look to be great options to get the most out of Windows 7 in a desktop.

Company Site: [HP.com]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Windows 7 is just around the corner with its October 22, 2009 release date.  The option to do a clean install can be frightening since you can easily lose your customizations that you’ve created over your time on a computer.  However, a clean install is often a key to keeping a machine running nice and smooth.  Belkin’s Easy Transfer cable is designed to help you get your accounts, files, program settings, music, e-mail messages, and more to your new Windows 7 machine. 

This cable is meant to work with Microsoft’s Windows Easy Transfer utility.  Each computer gets hooked up via their USB ports and then you can transfer at either USB 2.0 speeds or even USB 1.1 if necessary.  Get those computers nearby each other because the cable is only 8 feet.  The Belkin Easy Transfer cable will be available the day after Windows 7 on October 23, 2009 for $39.99.

Company Page: [Belkin]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Maybe you followed my advice over six months ago and decided to take an old computer and make it a server.  Perhaps you are an IT professional who manages servers.  Either way, you may want to check out StarTech.com’s Laptop KVM Adapter.  This device connects to your server’s VGA port and a USB port.  Then you attach a USB cable from your laptop to the device.  You now can control the server regardless of operating system.  Video shows up on your monitor and you’ve got full control using your keyboard and trackpad.  If you have a headless system somewhere, the Laptop KVM Adapter seems like a time saver.  Convenience does not come cheap, however.  The KVM costs $469.99 and is available now. 

Product Page: [KVM Console to USB 2.0 Portable Laptop Crash Cart Adapter]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

New rumored details emerged today about tablets from two competitors: Apple and Microsoft.  iLounge says they have 10 new pieces of info on Apple’s tablet while Gizmodo seems to have received yet another exclusive video detailing what Microsoft is thinking.  The two are at opposite ends of the tablet spectrum but overall, I am sensing they both miss the mark.

Apple iPad (like they’ll actually pull one out)

iLounge says Apple has been playing around with three different tablets that run iPhone OS.  That makes good sense as Apple would be foolish not to leverage the 85,000 and growing far too fast, applications currently residing in the Apple App Store.  Word is the tablet isn’t meant to compete with netbooks, rather it is more a big iPod touch with and without a 3G radio; think “light communication device”.

Windows Courier (it doesn’t run Vista, yay!)

Meanwhile, over at Gizmodo, the new video shows off how much Microsoft loves Nike.  Or at least how much the Courier team wants to design shoes.  The Courier uses a combination of inputs to move data around: finger swiping and the infamous stylus for text entry.  The double screen is right at home as a journal-like companion.  The thing looks gorgeous.

And I’m done with tablets

Here’s the rub, neither machine solves a problem.  The Apple is an extension of the iPod, the MS is trying to create another device to lug around.  Neither says, “hey you, stop carrying that [insert favorite device name here], use this instead.”  Neither makes me smack my head and say, “Hot damn, I need that.”

Yes, all the sneaker designers want the Courier and the geek in me would love to play with these gadgets, but at the end of the day, if neither product solves a problem, they’ll spend their lives behind glass.  Neither makes a compelling argument to get me to buy them.

The bigger problem is between my smartphone and PC, I don’t need a third screen.  Or at least, these incarnations don’t make it clear why I need that third screen.  Yes, it is totally unfair to judge these before even their manufacturers will confirm them, but really: why?  For surfing I don’t feel like doing on my phone, the PC is usually there.  A mid-range screen seems a bit gluttonous now, doesn’t it?

Think tablets are the next pet rocks?  Let us know if you’ll be sleeping in the street to get a hold of these, if, you know, they actually make it to market.

Full Story » | Written by JG Mason for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

For the past year the Intel Atom processor has been the default netbook processor.  It’s small, efficient, and fast enough to run the small machines.  The next version of the Atom, code named “Pine Trail” is due out by early 2010 at the latest.  It will feature graphics on the CPU and as a result be more energy efficient.  Now it looks like Intel wants to make the Atom processors faster.

According to Intel Executive Vice President Sean Maloney, the next generation of the Atom will prove to be faster than the 1.6GHz versions we have right now.  This would put the Atom on a similar “tick-tock” routine that the other processors now follow.  The tick-tock refers to each year alternating between advancing the architecture and the manufacturing process technology.  For netbooks, however, it’s unlikely well see more than just speed increases.  As of now, dual-core Atoms use far too much power and are better suited for the nettops they call home now.

Faster Atom chips would certainly be a welcome addition to netbooks.  Sure, they’re only meant for light usage, but faster processors will make them that much better.  There are some users who treat netbooks as more than what they are and load them up with data and applications, which will cause them to run even slower than usual.  Faster Atom chips would certainly help in that regard.  Next all they need is 2 GB of RAM to be standard to go with those faster processors and perhaps netbooks could be more usable to more people.

Read [CNet News]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• Microsoft’s new booklet computer, the Courier, leaked.
• The mythical Microsoft Pink phone is actually two phones?
• Netflix plans to be on every electronic device possible.
• Lots of announcements out of the Intel Developer Forum.

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

There’s money involved, so it’s got to be true.

Deutsche Bank analysts say that the rumor of Verizon passing on picking up the Palm Pre were preposterous.

Today is the final day of the Intel Developer Forum and as in the end of any forum/expo/conference, it’s a bit light on anything new.  Intel, being the large company it is, had something new to announce, though it seems to be just about the only thing new.  Intel decided to focus its attention to TV, both in terms of hardware and partnerships for software.

For hardware, Intel introduced it’s new CE4100 processor.  It’s a System on Chip processor and also part of the Intel Atom lineup.  The new chip will for processing of both broadcast and Internet applications.  It even has enough power to support 3D gaming.  The chip is capable of decoding two streams running at 1080p simultaneously, which is quite impressive.  Also impressive is its ability to record uncompressed 1080p video.

In terms of partnerships, Intel is teaming with Adobe, TransGaming, BBC, CBS, Cisco, and other media companies.  Intel hopes that with these partnerships devices using the new SoC Intel CE4100 new interactive features.  Adobe will be bringing Flash, and all the benefits of the platform to devices, with support for graphics and H.264 video.  TransGaming will be bringing a new service, GameTree.tv to the devices for on-demand gaming, with a variety of games available from TransGaming and and anyone else who wants to develop for the platform.  The media companies will come into play in terms of widgets that will held users find media and watch said media, or record it when it is set to air.

Read [Intel]
Image [Engadget]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Right after the Microsoft Courier hoopla comes another tablet that is not from Apple.  Archos, makers of very cool devices that very few normal people know about, just introduced its Archos 9, a 9-inch, 1024 x 600 resistive touch screen tablet.  There is also an optical trackpad if you want to mouse around.  The device runs Windows 7 (which has built-in multi-touch support), has 4 hours of battery life, and a 60GB hard drive.  The only problem?  The price tag is $499, which will probably keep it a niche product. 

Yes, it would be very cool to look up things on IMDB on this while watching a movie or even make it a home automation control center.  However for $499 you could get a netbook with similar stats with a keyboard.  On the other hand, this is not that much more expensive than HP’s line of digital picture frames, but has a lot more functionality. 

There’s a great video below from UMPC Portal.  It is definitely worth a watch.

Product Page: [Archos 9]
Read: [CrunchGear]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Maybe you missed it, but there’s a big hubub over a new Microsoft tablet/booklet computer, the Courier.  We got together with Randall Bennett and Gary Krakow on TechVi to talk about what Microsoft has to do to have a winner on its hands.  By crafting their own hardware to go along with their software, will Microsoft be able to succeed?  If Microsoft pairs the Courier with some of its other properties they may have a fighting chance before that Cupertino company inevitably releases its own tablet. 

Watch more episodes: [TechVi]
More with Gary Krakow: [BuyMeGetMe.com]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

According to Gizmodo, Microsoft has been secretly working on the development of a tablet PC with the code name Courier.  The site had videos and photos of the device, which showed a dual screen flat tablet.  It has full color touchscreen capabilities and works with the use of a stylus-like pen as well as finger navigation.  It opens and closes like a book for easy portability.  A megapixel camera is embedded into the cover of the tablet PC.

The tablet computer is not a new concept and rumors have been swirling for awhile that Apple may also be working on a prototype as well for the Mac OS.  Microsoft has no official word on this tablet PC and the prototype photographed is apparently one of many new devices that are being worked on.  Executive J. Allard is supposedly leading a team to develop new projects for the company, including the tablet PC.  This type of project would be a surprising release from the company since Microsoft is primarily a software and service company.  If they are indeed planning to release a tablet PC, it would most likely be in conjunction with a hardware manufacturer.

Read: [Gizmodo]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

As we have seen in the past, the Microsoft Surface has recently made its way into another Las Vegas hotspot and the latest location is the new Hard Rock Cafe which is located in the Showcase Mall.  Now, in addition to walking around and checking out the memorabilia on the walls (as well as buying some overpriced souvenirs), visitors can spend some time and check out any of the seven Surface tables that will be on display.

Of course, similar to when the Surface was added at the Rio iBar these units will also feature some apps that were designed specifically for the Hard Rock.  In fact, there are two apps and they include:

• Worldwide Memorabilia – Created by Hard Rock, the new Worldwide Memorabilia application is designed for guests to explore the world’s greatest collection of rock music memorabilia that reside in Hard Rock properties from around the world. This is an extension of the Memorabilia experience that is available on the web as well as in the restaurant booths. The application also lets users pivot from one collection to another, using categories such as artist, year, genre, and type.
• Virtual Globe – Customers can also use a spinning virtual globe to find other Hard Rock locations and view images of the properties.

In regards to the apps, they are noted as being a collaboration between the Hard Rock, Duncan/Channon as well as Vertigo (a Microsoft Surface partner).

Read [Microsoft Surface Blog]

Full Story » | Written by Robert Nelson for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Today began the Intel Developer Forum, a chance for Intel and a number of other companies to debut their newest computer technology.  It’s the perfect opportunity to see what’s coming up next in terms of computer hardware and will likely see a lot of new Windows 7 machines throughout the conference.  Today, as the opening day, saw a lot of announcements during the keynote presentation.

The biggest announcement for Intel looks to be the new Intel Xeon 5500 series of processors.  Intel is saying these new chips will power everything from the Internet to research oriented supercomputers.  They look to be quite fast and smart enough to clock the multiple cores to handle the task at hand through the new Intel Turbo Boost Technology.  Intel is saying the chip series is the most important processor innovation since the Intel Pentium Pro which was released nearly 15 years ago.

For processors, Intel also brought on stage a wafer of its 22nm chips that are due for release in 2011.  The technology is said to push Moore’s Law further than some have thought possible with the scaling wall nowhere in sight.  The new technology would allow for 2.9 billion transistors in the area of a fingernail and will make for even faster, more efficient computers.

In terms of more pressing consumer matters, Intel has announced the new Intel Atom Developer Program.  The program is meant to draw developers into making apps for netbooks and later MIDs and smartphones that use Intel Atom processors.  The idea is that the program will create more applications that are designed to fit on netbook-sized screens, and will be cross-platform using platforms like Silverlight and Flash.  Some companies like Acer are planning on putting app stores for such apps onto future netbooks.  It’s not clear why that is needed, however, as the idea of netbooks always seemed more like a portable web browser and maybe word processor, apps seem like they could be redundant or rarely used.

Read [Xeon 5500 series]
Read [Intel Atom Developer Program]
Read [22nm chips (PDF Link)]

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Silicon Graphics International (SGI) has announced the availability of the Octane III, a supercomputer that combines a high performance deskside cluster and practical usability in a workplace environment.  Features of the Octane III include a one by two foot form factor, quiet operational modes, 80 high performance cores, and 1TB of memory.

What makes the Octane III unique is that it is practical by making functions easy to use.  It can also use standard outlets to operate and does not require specialty electrical gear.  The Octane III will be packaged in four different variations: Ten dual-socket Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5500 series-based nodes, one dual-socket Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5500 series-based workstation, 19 single-socket Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 3400 series-based nodes, and 19 single-socket Dual-Core Intel Atom processor-based nodes.  Out of the box, the Octane III is factory-tested and already pre-integrated platform with broad HPC application support.

The Octane III is available now and the base model will start at an affordable $7,995 for a supercomputer.

Read: [Yahoo Finance]

Full Story » | Written by Heather Wood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Amazon is getting in on the cable business.  The AmazonBasics line of cables is Amazon’s audio/video and computer cables that come in Amazon’s Frustration Free Packaging (meaning no blister-packs).  Assuming AmazonBasics are decent quality cables, this is an interesting development.  Finding a particular cable on Amazon.com can be somewhat troublesome with so many different vendors selling various brands of cables.  The AmazonBasics line ought to streamline picking up odds and ends for your computer or home theater. 

I would imagine that certain companies will not like the idea of Amazon pushing its own branded goods over their own.  Would you pick up a $99 Monster HDMI cable or an AmazonBasics HDMI cable for $8.94? 

Right now, the AmazonBasics line includes USB cables, FireWire cables, CD-Rs, DVR+R, DVD-Rs, networking cables, and various home theater cables.  Prices seem quite reasonable when compared to some other brands.  I wouldn’t expect to see televisions or portable electronics under the AmazonBasics brand, but Amazon could always come up with some other clever name for that - maybe AmazonElectronics?

Read: [Pocket-Lint]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Welcome back to InterrupTech where we catch you up on the most important tech stories.  This week there’s plenty to cover:

• HP’s new Envy13 and Envy15 are here.
• HP’s not-a-tablet HP DreamScreen.
• All HP news at Gadgetell.com.
• Kindle book outsells hardcover.
• Facebook tops 300 million users and will be profitable soon.
• Microsoft drops the ball on the Zune again.
• Android gaining some steam in the tech world.

The best part about the show?  Topics move quickly, but if you don’t like a topic, just skip it.  Keep an eye on that timer to help you along.  Enjoy the show.

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

With Windows 7 quickly approaching next month, now is the best time for new product announcements to coincide with the OS release.  Usually that would mean new desktops, laptops, and this time around, netbooks.  AMD is taking a different angle, however, and is going after those who build their own PCs.  What better way to do that than to put out a new CPU that’s cheaper than anything Intel is currently offering.

The new CPU, the AMD Athlon II X4, is the first quad-core chip to be introduced at a price of $99.  The chip is $50 less than the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200, which should make it at least a bit more viable.  The Athlon II X4 may not be the fastest CPU available, AMD’s previous Phenom II X3 (with 3 cores) will more often be the faster chip, though it does cost $20 more.

It’s interesting that AMD would go after the desktop PC crowd with it’s new chip.  Laptops and netbooks seem to be the main segments of the PC market as of late.  Though it is true that desktops tend to be cheaper than laptops, and even cheaper when you build them yourself.  This market might be a good place to start to gain back some market, or even mind share in the industry.  Sure, when building an ultimate gaming machine the AMD Athlon II X4 simply doesn’t stack up to the Core i7, but for those looking to build cheaper desktops to run Windows 7, it’s certainly a good choice.  Even if it doesn’t turn out too well for AMD, or you really want Intel chips, it might convince Intel to put out a cheaper quad-core chip, or just go the current Apple route and keep the current models when they debut the next generation, but knock the price down to compete better.

Read [Cnet News]

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The New York Office of the Attorney General has announced Dell will pay $4 million to settle a lawsuit the AG filed against it back in 2007.  The suit accused Dell of misleading customers by making false promises of cheap financing and refusing to honor rebates and warranties.  In May of last year, the New York State Supreme Court found the company guilty of fraud, false advertising, abusive debt collection practices, and deceptive business practices.

Along with the settlement, Dell is required to disclose detailed information about the level of service their customers will receive and the percentage of customers that qualify for low cost financing.

“Today’s announcement is the final step in ensuring New Yorkers harmed by Dell’s deceptive and illegal business practices are fully compensated,” said Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo said in a statement announcing the settlement.

If you are a New York resident you can go online to the AG’s website and file an application for restitution.

Read [PCWorld]

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The Pogoplug has been loved by several Gadgetell writers from the time we stumbled upon them during CES 2009 and since then they have only gotten better.  Now the latest announcement coming from Pogoplug has them partnering with Seagate.

The partnership means that the Pogoplug service is going to soon power the FreeAgent DockStar from Seagate.  That alone sounds good, especially for Seagate fans and even better is that the Pogoplug team was quick to point out that the “DockStar set up is as simple as the Pogoplug device.”  And for anyone that has not yet used a Pogoplug—it is about as simple as it could be.

Moving forward, FreeAgent DockStar users can expect to find the same features that we have come to love from Pogoplug which include full web access, sharing through email or RSS, local drive support as well as an iPhone application.

In addition to the current sharing through email and RSS, Pogoplug users will also soon be able to share using social networks such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.  With this, users will be able to do things like publish links to their home hard drive which will allow friends and family members a direct look.  Of course, depending on who is or who you are following those links this feature should most likely be used with some caution.

Read [PogoPlug]

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The Addonics 5-port Hardware Port Multiplier (“HPM”) is here to let you hook up lots of SATA devices to your computer.  There are two versions.  The HPM-XA System Version that fits inside your computer where a PCI slot would be where it gives you 5 internal ports - you hook up your SATA controller to the HPM-XA and you’ve got 5 ports ready.  The other is the 5 Port HPM-XA Enclosure Version which fits into multi-bay enclosures (which Addonics also sells).  This is a good way to reuse an older machines to create a giant server for all your videos, photos, and music.  Each version of the HPM costs $99. 

Product Page: [HPM]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

There are times when you need to bring large files from your desktop or laptop to someone else’s and no flash drive you have is quite large enough to hold those massive files or can only handle a portion of them.  Moving files through several transfers from one flash drive, over and over, again can get to be very tedious and time consuming.  Portable hard drives can work in the situation, but they can be fairly fragile at times and not very fast.  OWC looks to have these problems covered with its latest release.

OWC has introduced a line of portable SSDs as part of its Mercury On-The-Go Pro line.  The SSDs will be able to connect to your computer through Firewire 400 or 800 or USB 2.0 and transfer data are at speeds of up to 100 MBps, which should make for some faster file transfers compared to similar-sized portable HDDs.  They won’t be able to hold as much as a lot of portable HDDs you can get now, with sizes of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB.  What they will give you over the portable HDDs is less moving parts (none, to be exact), better shock protection, better power efficiency, and less noise when in use.

These SSDs really aren’t much of a surprise; they appear to be just SSDs packed into OWCs 1.8” HDD portable enclosures.  However, the ease of simply buying it whole is much appreciated, and possibly even a tad cheaper.  With the 64GB version retailing at $279.99, however, you either have to have a lot of money or be really into SSDs to justify buying one.  These should come in down in price eventually, which will be nice.  The only problem is SSDs aren’t, and can’t come down in price fast enough.

Read [Electronista]

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Making sure to avoid getting buried by the Apple (presumably iPod) announcement tomorrow, Dell today announced a number of new computers.  The new machines come in the form of a new desktop with options for Intel Core i5s or Core i7s and two new slim laptops.

Dell’s new desktops

To start, the new desktop is the Dell Studio XPS 8000, and even with the standard feature set it is fairly impressive for a gaming, home theater or image/video editing PC.  The Dell Studio XPS 8000 starts at $799 with an Intel Core i7, 4 GB of RAM, integrated 7.1 surround sound, and an ATI Radeon HD 4350 512MB, which isn’t bad at all.  Upgrades include the aforementioned Core i7, up to a monstrous 16 GB of RAM, and Blu-ray read-only or burnable drive.  Looks to be a good deal no matter what the specs.

New Inspirons, too

The two new “ultra-slim” laptops come in the form of the Inspiron 14z and 15z.  Both are using Intel’s Utra-Low Voltage (ULV) to provide lots of battery life, to the tune of 4 or 8 hours from 4 and 8 cell batteries, respectively.  They each feature Intel Core 2 Solo, Core 2, or Core 2 Duo processors, and, unlike the Inspiron 11z, both the 14z and 15z have a DVD-drive.  Aside from the ULV technology and the reduced size (each stand at less than 1 inch thick when closed), they are pretty much the same as the Inspiron 14 and 15, though the added battery life may be worth the extra money.

Hold your horses?

The new computers are definitely nice machines, but it might be worth it to hold off on buying them for at least a month and a half.  At this point, with Windows 7 looming at the end of next month, buying a PC right now is probably not worth the hassle of installing the new OS.  Unless you really need a new computer of laptop right now, just hold off on these until they have 7 instead of Vista pre-installed.  Or, of course, there’s always a Snow Leopard installed Mac.

Read (laptops) [Virtual Press Office]
Read (desktop) [Virtual Press Office]

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Netbooks are so 2008.  Get ready for the new wave of must-have devices dubbed “smartbooks.”  These smartbooks are small netbook sized devices running on ARM microprocessors used in smartphones.  Why would you build such a beast?  They’re cheap.

According to PC World, Foxconn is developing less than five different models of these inexpensive devices that aim to be in the $100- $200 range.  Young Liu, special assistant to the CEO at Foxconn was quoted by the magazine as saying, “that’s a lot lower than a netbook,” he said. “There will be a lot of demand for a sub-$200 device.”

The assistant said demand was coming out of China and other places where these cost-sensitive devices might have the biggest impact.  Users can expect basic functionality, WiFi, and slower processing speeds.  The screen size would be in the 7-10 inch range.

Others have shown plans for similar smartbooks at last June’s Computex.  Largely, these are built for other manufacturers and will be rebranded.  Foxconn is the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer.

Read: [PC World]

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Asus just dropped the new UL Series of laptops with a 1.3GHz dual-core processor that is a Intel Consumer Ultra Low Voltage processor.  Why is that good news?  Increased battery life—Asus is claiming up to 12 hours of battery life in their new UL series.  While battery life hardly ever matches manufacturer’s claims, a battery at 1/2 that life is still pretty good. 

The UL Series also is thin and light at under 1 inch thick and weighs 3 pounds in a brushed aluminum chassis.  Asus also threw in the ability to switch between an integrated graphics card and a dedicated one to keep battery life up.  Unfortunately, Asus did not release the price and lists the availability as “soon.” 

Company Site: [Asus]

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The easiest way to get anybody to use your software is to pack it into their brand new PCs.  While most of us hate the software pre-packaged trial software that comes bundled with a new PC, there’s no doubt that its an easy way to get the software out to the general public.  Google seems to have realized this, and has announced its first partnership to bundle its Chrome browser with new PCs.

The partnership lies with Sony and the deal apparently went into effect this summer.  Computers with the browser pre-installed are still forthcoming, though we have no idea what models will ship with it.  All we know right now is that Google has partnered with Sony to bring Chrome to some of its computers and that Google is looking into making more deals with other hardware manufacturers.

Chrome is certainly fighting an uphill battle against Internet Explorer, Firefox, and even Safari as it sits in fourth place behind them all.  Getting the browser put onto more machines could certainly help that.  Chrome at first glance is possibly the easiest browser to figure out - it just doesn’t hold the presence of the top three.  While pairing with one of the less popular computer manufacturers might not be the biggest leap in exposure, it’s at least a step forward.  Perhaps if that next deal is with one of the bigger manufacturers, perhaps the increasingly popular Acer, Chrome could possibly overtake Safari in overall usage.  For now, any support for my personal favorite browser is always a good thing.

Read [Reuters]

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S1Digital introduced what it calls the “Digital Entertainment Platform.”  This system uses three parts: “an Entertainment Server, Media Center clients and a control solution.”  You load all your content on the Entertainment Server which can support up to 32TB of hard drive space.  The server also has a Blu-ray player that can also play CDs and DVDs and supports CableCards.  Next up a Media Center client can play content from the server.  Their third part of their solution is a touch screen controller.  If you’re up for their system, you can buy only one version of the clients yourself for $1799.  For the rest, you’ll need to contact a dealer that does home theater installations.  Judging the price based on that media center client, you can expect to pay quite the hefty amount to get this system in your home.  If you are a geek, you could probably build yourself a pretty great solution using a Drobo, a server, some wired Ethernet, and small PCs hooked up to your televisions for less.

Company Site: [S1Digital]

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Segways in the city

Most of us have seen a Segway somewhere—it was the device that was supposed to change the way cities were designed.  One city doesn’t think it needs to even accept the device; in New York City, Segways are not allowed to travel on the streets.  Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that he would be for Segways in the city.  Crazily, Mayor Bloomberg was not elected ruler and master of New York, but just mayor, so he has to listen to the collective voice of the city that doesn’t want it on the streets.  I guess Segways will have to stay a mall cop’s best friend for now.  [Source]

I’ve got a studio in the city

How many of us have the cash to have a video production studio in the heart or New York City?  Maybe you need to get creative like Nicholi did.  The kid went over to the 5th Ave Apple Store to mess with the computers there.  One of the cooler things about Apple Stores is that the employees pretty much leave you alone if you want.  This kid decided to record lots of videos where he lip syncs to music at that particular Apple Store.  Got to give him this, he’s creative, and he’s not afraid to perform in public.  [Source]

Hang on, chat room, DOA

I’m sure we’ve all been a chat room where we felt like walking off and faking our suicide thereby confusing and terrifying everyone in the room.  What?  You never thought of doing that?  You must not be Joseph Shepherd.  This genius faked a suicide on camera for a chat room.  When he was found to be safe, he was promptly arrested for Aggravated Harassment.  Where did this happen?  Lockport, NY.  [Source]  via [BoingBoing Gadgets]

Full Story » | Written by Iyaz Akhtar for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

Video cards are often internal hardware used to extend monitor functions.  Tritton introduced two new VGA cards that are external and designed to extent multiple monitor support.  The “highly-efficient” VGA video cards See2 UV150 and See2 Xtreme are already on sale at Best Buy starting today. 

For $49.99, the See2 UV150 is an affordable way to use another VGA monitor for your PC setup.  Forget about installing internal video/graphic cards to support multiple monitor support, with the external See2 UV150 installation should be really simple and easy.  Plenty of people think that the more monitors, the better and Tritton hopes to help with the USB compatible See2 UV150.  On their website, here are some uses for multiple monitor support depending on what you need:

Office Use:

  * View large spreadsheets across two screens with display continuity
  * Multitask more effectively without overlapping windows
  * Open attachments on one screen while reading the e-mail on the other

Mobile Use:

  * View multiple screen displays and presentations without bringing another computer

Graphic Use:

  * Use second display for pallets/tools

Data Entry Use:

  * Type documents on one screen while viewing reference material on the other

Wall Street:

  * Use a notebook for viewing multiple screens
  * View charts and live data at the same time

Entertainment:

  * View videos/TV on one screen

In case you want to hook up even more monitor support, perhaps the See2 Xtreme USB VGA card is right up your alley.  Whether you are running a Mac or PC, the See2 Xtreme has the ability to sync 6 different VGA displays using the external video card.  In addition, it has support for extended desktop, mirroring, and primary mode.  Users have the ability to switch between any of those modes at ease.  For $79.99, it is a bit more expensive than the UV150, but definitely worth it if you work in a big office where you need many monitors hooked up to one system. 

The full press release is below:

TRITTON Sees Double at Best Buy

with Two External VGA Video Cards

VISTA, Calif. – Aug. 17, 2009 –The explosion of productivity-minded products hitting the store shelves this past year has caused consumers to go cross-eyed with options.  TRITTON Technologies
, a leader in high-performance computer peripherals, cuts through the clutter with two of its highly-efficient external VGA video cards, See2 UV150 and See2 Xtreme, at retail giant Best Buy.

“Living in a world where people have to get more done in less time, the See2 UV150 and See2 Xtreme swoop in like superheroes,” said Christopher Von Huben, president, TRITTON Technologies.  “From home office users to enterprise businesses, the TRITTON SEE2 line of products brings considerable value to those of us trying to be more productive in a work environment that offers fewer resources.”

The See2 UV150 is a simple and cost-effective way to add a second VGA display to computers at $49.99. No longer is it necessary to go through the expensive and tedious hassle of installing an internal graphics card in order to add an additional display. This straightforward video card connects to a computer via USB 2.0, extending desktops across multiple screens. Increasing productivity by 44%, studies conducted have concluded that using multiple displays instead of one display is a more effective manner to get work done. Whether it be at home surfing the web or at work perfecting spreadsheets, the UV 150 makes life that much easier.

To take it up a notch, TRITTON offers its See2 Xtreme USB to DVI external video card, priced at $79.99, which can add up to six displays to a computer. Upgrading to the See2 Xtreme allows for both Mac and PC users to take full advantage of invaluable efficiency both in terms of time and workload that TRITTON grants with the product. With simple precision, users can transition among extended desktop, mirroring and primary mode. Its patented technology effortlessly integrates into computer systems in no time, immediately empowering its user by offering maximum resolutions for clarity and concision.

The UV150 and See2 Xtreme are two solutions available to anyone, ranging from at-home internet junkies to corporate CEOs. The undeniable benefit behind these VGA video cards further establishes TRITTON Technologies as a leader in the computer peripheral industry. Both of these time-friendly products from TRITTON Technologies can now be found at any Best Buy store as well as on BestBuy.com
.

About TRITTON Technologies

TRITTON Technologies is based in Vista, Calif., and is a manufacturer of high-performance, consumer electronics and computer peripheral products.  TRITTON takes pride in creating innovative products that offer superior functionality and reliability.  Visit TRITTON Technologies’ website at www.trittonusa.com
.

# # #

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Press contacts for TRITTON Technologies:

Damion Martin / Jason Wonacott

Wonacott Communications, LLC

(310) 477-2871

dmartin@wonacottpr.com / jwonacott@wonacottpr.com

Press contacts for Best Buy Inc., Co.:

Best Buy Public Relations

Best Buy News Center

(612) 292-NEWS

newscenter@bestbuy.com

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

It was just over a year ago that we saw the Microsoft Surface make an appearance at Harrah’s Rio bar in Las Vegas and now it will also be on-site at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City.

The Surface will be on display at the Xhibition Bar and visitors will be able to sit down and get hands-on with any of the seven available units.  Those visiting will be able to use Hip-notic, which is a video application that shows online videos as well as play High Roller (a bowling game), Last call (a music memory game) and See and Be Scene which features photos taken from Harrah’s both in Las Vegas and Atlantic City.  Additionally, the Surface units will also have Virtual AC so visitors will be able to get a virtual tour of Atlantic City.

All things considered the Surface is fun and exciting to play with, that said, the last application that I mentioned (Virtual AC) sounds like it could be better unused.  I am not saying that I would not sit down and play with the Surface for a few minutes if I were in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, but getting a virtual tour of a city that you are in just sounds bad, remember technology is cool, but we also need to get out and enjoy the real world.  Given that, Virtual AC would be nice to scout out some potential locations that you may want to visit.

Read [Microsoft Surface Blog]

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Epson, a company mostly known for their printers, has recently shown off the new WorkForce 610 and WorkForce 1100 on Amazon.  In terms of similarity, both printers boast Wi-Fi connectivity (in order to be shared by computers), and the ability to fax documents directly from your computer.  If you only buy products that meet the energy star requirements, then you will be pleased to know both printers are eco-friendly and save power. 

Specifically, the Epson WorkForce 610 can print up to 38 ppm in both black & white and color.  For laser printing, black & white speeds are 15 ppm, and color is 9.3 ppm.  It allows for a 30 page Auto Document Feeder to conveniently scan, fax, or copy as many papers as you need.  Epson promises that the ink will never smudge.  I suppose if you print high quality documents very fast and handle it immediately they would smudge, but neither of these printers will allow that to happen. 

Meanwhile, the WorkForce 1100 is designed to print documents of any size in order to make your small business more productive.  It sacrifices printer speed but it is designed to save ink, thus saving you money in the long run.  In terms of printing speeds, it cranks out 30 ppm in black & white ink, while 17 ppm in color ink.  In addition, laser quality printing can achieve speeds of 13 ppm for black & white, while it reaches only 5.5 ppm in color ink. 

The Epson WorkForce 610 will be available in late August for $200, while the Epson WorkForce 1100 will be available in late September for the same price. 

Check it out [Amazon] and [Amazon] Via [Electronista]

Full Story » | Written by Natesh Sood for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »

For those of us with jobs that revolve around typing on a computer for prolonged periods of time, it is important that we use the right keyboard and typing techniques.  Of course, changing typing habits is not very easy, but using a keyboard that will help your fingers and wrists is possible.

The new Logitech Wireless Desktop MK 700 is a wireless keyboard and mouse setup.  The interesting part of this product is the keyboard, which features Logitech’s special “Incurve keys.”  The keys on the keyboard are designed in such a fashion that are curved in a way that provides comfort to your fingers.  In addition, the keyboard features a LCD screen on top that displays vital keyboard information.  Among battery status, the LCD screen will display whether or not caps lock, scroll lock, and num lock are on, and whether mute is being used or not. 

No specially designed keyboard and mouse combo would be complete without an equally special mouse.  Logitech’s using a slightly curved mouse to better fit your hand shape.  In terms of scrolling, users have the choice between typical “ratchet-mode” or hyper-fast.  The problem with a hyper-fast sort of scrolling is the prospect of over scrolling, which can become annoying.  Both these products claim strong connectivity and immediate responses.  Logitech gives the keyboard a three year battery life and a one year battery life for the mouse.

Read [Logitech]

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For computer manufacturers, going green has been a big issue for a number of years.  Most computers include a number of dangerous compounds such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics.  Many manufacturers have committed themselves to phasing out the amount of these chemicals in their computers, even if they have yet to cut them out completely.

HP originally promised to phase out these compounds back in 2007, with full compliance due by 2009.  HP has since delayed those efforts, expecting full compliance by 2011.  Not happy with their commitment, Greenpeace has decided to respond to HP by climbing onto the roof of HP’s global headquarters and writing “Hazardous Products” in bold letters made of non-toxic children’s finger paint.  HP employees can also see Greanpeace’s displeasure through the automated phone calls from William Shatner today asking them to phase out dangerous chemicals.

Greenpeace is asking HP to be more like Apple, which has virtually eliminated BFRs and PVC from all of its computers.  Even other top manufacturers like Dell, Lenovo, and Acer has reduced the amount of dangerous chemicals in their computers, some of them even as green as Apple’s.  There’s really no excuse for HP to not follow through with its promises if all those other companies are doing so.  As HP should know with its recycling program, e-waste is very dangerous and accumulates tons of old computers yearly.  It would be nice to see the manufacturing giant, whose products most likely amount to a large percentage of e-waste take steps to help out through more means than just recycling programs.

Full Story » | Written by Shawn Ingram for Gadgetell. | Comment on this Article »