WorldCAD Access

Live blogging Dell Precision workstation launch: Day 2

Dell this morning announced a new entry-level portable workstation, ie, high-power laptop. The starting price is $1200, but it will not ship until later in the Spring. Not a lot of specs at this point, but it looks like a traditional laptop, and not the ultrabook size. The M2800 is the cheapest 15" engineering laptop, says Dell, but the starting price can grow with all of the options available, some of which are listed below. It weighs just over 5.5 pounds. It can be configured with Intel's Core i5 and i7 processors, AMD's FirePro W4170M graphics with 2GB of GDDR5... Read more →

Extending the range of your wireless system

One of the hassles of my house is that a natural gas furnace and its sheetmetal ductwork are centered in the basement, blocking wifi signals from reaching all areas. Extension Through Powerline Adapters My first attempt at extending the range was to use powerline wifi adapters. You buy two, plug one into a power outlet near your wifi box, and then attach the two with an ethernet cable. Repeat the process where you want the second wifi box located. The idea is that the network signal goes over the electrical wires in the house. For the most part it works.... Read more →

Solving UCPC media problems

OK, so I've been using my Gigabyte BRIX ultra compact personal computer for a while as a media server, and have encountered problems. I waited writing this blog until I found solutions. Here we go... Video Tearing When watching hi-def videos running from an MP4 or FLV file, tearing occurs in high-speed scenes. It looks like a shallow diagonal line separating two frames. While not devastating (like some of the other problem I encountered), it irritates. After some research, I found... The problem is due to Intel not having optimized CPU drivers for Linux. Recall that Intel's recent lines of... Read more →

Playing with an ultra compact PC, part vi

When I bought the UCPC, I didn't know I was buying a kit -- no RAM, no hard drive, no operating system. I've installed the RAM and the solid state drive. Now it's time to start it up and install the operating system. Starting the BRIX for the First Time I wasn't sure what a non-OS computer would recognize when starting up for the first time, so I plugged in the following: Wired keyboard (instead of a wireless one) Wired mouse HDMI cable to a monitor I attached the power supply, and then pressed the On button. It lit up... Read more →

Playing with an ultra compact PC, part v

In summary, my UCPC (ultra compact personal computer) kit now works! But first, the details on how I installed the RAM, now that it finally arrived. Installing the RAM Because low-voltage RAM is expensive, I chose to purchase just one 4GB module (for $50). The BRIX motherboard has two slots, and so I can always add more RAM later. The motherboard handles a maximum of 16GB RAM (which would cost about $175), but it this amount of memory is unnecessary for my purpose, which is to run Linux. After the memory arrived (see figure 1), I installed it. Figure 1:... Read more →

Playing with an ultra compact PC, part iv

Waiting, waiting... To complete the hardware installation of the barebones ultra compact PC I've been outfitting, I am been waiting for the delivery of the rare DDR3L memory module -- 1.35V, low voltage RAM. After two weeks of waiting, I finally contacted Mike's Computing about the delay. As we used to sing on high school band trips during delays in travel, "Why are we waiting? Why oh why are we waiting? Oh why are we, why are we-ee wa-ai-ting?" (to the tune of "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"). Well, turns out the product was not in stock, even though the... Read more →

Playing with an ultra compact PC, part iii

As I await delivery of the DDR3L low-voltage RAM module, I did some more digging about this ultra compact personal computer, for which there is sparse information available: Figure 1: The tiny Gigabyte BRIX ucpc sitting on top of the huge Apple Mac mini. More About UCPC "UCPC" is an Intel initiative for making ultra small desktop computers -- akin to Intel's ultrabook specs for making ultra thin laptop computers. UCPCs are meant as zero-footprint desktops (because they can be attached to the back of LCD monitors) and as media servers. Best as I can tell, there are just two... Read more →

Playing with an ultra compact PC, part ii

While waiting for the mSATA solid state drive to arrive, I researched this strange tiny beast I had bought. An ultra compact PC was unlike any other computer I had purchased. First off, I discovered there is very little information about using this model of ultra compact PC, partly because it is brand-new (just shipped in the last couple of months), partly because there just isn't much about UCPCs. There are no dedicated forums, as I had expected -- and had experienced with just about any other piece of hardware. But I did glean some information that Gigabyte doesn't tell... Read more →

Playing with an ultra compact PC, part i

For my selfie-Christmas present, I bought an ultra compact computer. It's as small as an Apple TV box, but instead contains an entire computer: 1.7GHz dual-core Intel i3 CPU with Intel HD 4400 GPU four USB 3.0 connectors HDMI (4096x2304 @24Hz) and mini DisplayPort (3200x2000 @60Hz) video out analog and digital audio output ethernet and wireless networking Bluetooth adapter plate to attach the unit to the back of a monitor external power brick Price: around $300 for a box that's about 4.5" square and an inch tall. Its small size make a Mac mini look overgrown. Why a UCPC? So,... Read more →

SSD-ing my office

I've switched the hard drives in most of the computers in the upFront.eZine Publishing world headquarters offices to solid state drives. Sometimes, technology comes along that just makes it worthwhile switching wholesale. Like only wireless mice, once the batteries lasted for at least a year. Like only LCD monitors, once 20" and bigger screens were priced reasonably. (The first one I ever bought was for my wife's computer, a 14" LCD screen for $1500. Argh.) Like only LED lightbulbs for this office (where the lights are on 12-16 hours a day), once their color changed from icy-cold white to warm... Read more →

How to clone drives under Windows 8 (it's harder than before)

When you want to replace a hard disk drive with a solid state drive, then there is plenty of free software for cloning drives. (Solid state drives are more expensive than hard disk ones, but are much faster and have no moving parts, and so are more rugged. Cloning means to exactly copy everything from one drive to the other, including the operating system, locked system files, and hidden folders. I wrote about doing this in How I installed my new SSD.) Last weekend, one of my kids wrecked the hard drive in her laptop computer; this was the second... Read more →

How to erase Windows from a reused hard drive

I wrecked the motherboard of my previous desktop computer, but the 500GB hard drive was perfectly good; plus, it contained all my files. So I installed it into my current desktop computer. It still had Windows and some Windows-oriented folders, which contained system-protected files that I could not erase -- even though Windows no longer uses any files on this second hard drive. I knew I could get Linux to erase the folders and files, but I didn't want to turn my desktop computer into a dual-boot machine. I tried running Linux in a virtual machine using Oracle VM VirtualBox... Read more →

How to make your aging netbook run like ZIP!

Netbooks were the first ultrabooks, the first Macbook Airs. ASUS invented the new category of diminutive computer back in the mid-2000s. Its first model was too small -- 7" 800x480 screen and just 4GB disk space -- and ran a customized version of Linux with a severe bug: CAPSLOCK would turn on permanently until it was rebooted. (I have that first EEE 701 model, and it cost me $400; naturally, I put on a better version of Linux.) Microsoft grew jealous of this fast-growing category, and so made Windows XP available cheaply, and arranged with Intel to limit the hardware... Read more →

How I installed my new SSD

At a trade show, I won a 480GB solid state drive from Intel. I was hyped, because I was interested in getting one, but was shy of the $500 pricetag. SSDs promise much faster computer performance for those tasks that involve the hard drive. This includes things like booting the computer, starting programs for the first time, loading and saving files, and paging RAM. Solid state drives are faster than hard drives, because they have no moving parts. They use the same memory technology as the memory cards I stick into my digital camera and smartphone. Having no moving parts... Read more →

Intel wishes it could do what Androids already do

I had to chuckle reading an interview on the Verge, titled Ultrabook, round two: can Intel control the future of the laptop? (The text of the URL, however, reads, "intel-on-all-day-battery-life-we-really-mean-it-this-time.") The interview is with Intel consumer PC head Kirk Skaugen, and just about every promise he makes for future PCs is already established on Android tablets and hybrids, like the ASUS TF101 with keyboard dock that I currently enjoy. All-day battery life 12-16 hours on Android tablets with dual batteries Intel founded the Mobile PC Extended Battery Life Working Group -- in 2002! Touch Found on all Android tablets Found... Read more →

Adding RAM to Acer's ZS600 all-in-one computer is tough; here's how to do it

From the specs provided by Acer, I know that my all-in-one ZS600 touchscreen computer had just 4GB RAM, but could take 8GB. Even better, one slot was empty. (Usually both slots are filled for better memory performance.) But adding the RAM is not just a case of undoing a couple of screws and sliding a panel. Fortunately, I found the repair manual online. Here are photos I took that show you how to remove the back of the computer. You will need: pliers phillips screwdriver (I use a cordless screwdriver) jewelers screwdrivers: phillips and flat optionally, a magnet. (My pliers... Read more →

The Steve Jobs myth of the Mac UI

One of the on-going myths of Steve Jobs is that he was a visionary because he saw what a research lab run by Xerox had done, and then turned the idea into the Lisa computer first, and then the Mac. He gets credit for commercializing it, but not for dreaming about it. The engineering office in which I worked in the early 1980s had two IBM DisplayWriter word processing systems that used the Xerox monitor and printer. These were dedicated word processors, at which two secretaries turned our hand-written engineering report into beautiful pages that looked like they were typeset.... Read more →

The AZS600 touch screen all-in-one computer from Acer

My dad didn't like the all-in-one Acer desktop computer with 23" screen and Windows 8 that I got him a couple of weeks ago. So he gave it to me, and I've had a chance to explore it. Windows 8 is alright, so long as I ignore the metro UI junk, and stick to the Windows 7 look-alike part.I can't always ignore metro, as Windows 8 sometimes insists on shoving it back onto the screen. A real productivity killer. Thanks, Steve and Steve. I described my experience with using AutoCAD and the touch screen over on my WorldCAD Access blog.... Read more →

Fixing a screwed-up memory card

Using a bad memory card reader can screw up memory cards, such as SD cards. There is little sign that there is a problem, except that Windows is hesitant to recognize it. Windows won't fix the card, whether through formatting it, running ChkDsk, or whatever. I have found a solution involving your digital camera. Digital cameras can format memory cards, and they seem less fussy than Windows. When a poor-quality memory card reader "wrecked" a 16GB SD card of mine, I did the following: 1. I stuck the card into my digital camera. 2. The camera complained that it was... Read more →

Three computer repairs this week, two successful

I have been working this week on fixing three computers. MacBook Hard Drive Replacement Daughter #1's Macbook has a small 250GB hard drive, and because she takes many photos, the drive quickly filled up. I read on the Internet that it is easy to switch drives and move the data on Macs (not so for Windows PCs!). I removed the 640GB hard drive from my daughter-in-law's old, broken computer. It took about 3.5 hours to move the data from MacBook hard drive to the external one, and then another ten minutes to physically swap the drives. Well, that and a... Read more →

How to replace the hard drive in your MacBook

My daughter's MacBook has a miserably small hard drive, just 250GB. Being a semi-professional photographer, all those RAW files filled up the drive in no time. I figured she should replace the hard drive, and then we came into a spare one after my daughter-in-law's HP laptop went bye-bye. The CPU was shot, but the 640GB hard drive was fine. After I got all the files off the drive and safely to my daughter-in-law, I realized I had the ideal drive for my daughter. It was ideal because the drive was (a) the right kind, (b) 400GB more capacity than... Read more →

My failed toy: LaCie network drive

I've written before about the dreadful state of LaCie and its line of hard drives. I am slowly getting rid of the ones I have. At one time, I thought that a network drive would solve the problem created by Microsoft, in which they make it difficult to access data on networked computers. Since networked printers had worked well in our office, I got LaCie's Network Drive so that data could be easily stored and shared among multiple computers. Short story: didn't work. The LaCie Network Drive is a beautiful beast outwardly, but inside it is a nasty beast. Because... Read more →

My new toy: An Optoma projector that plays back BluRay but not DVD discs

I got a new Optoma HD66 home theatre projector for our entertainment room. Since it was refurbished from a place that specializes in projectors, I got it for pretty much half-price. The image is stunning, compared to my previous projector (Benq MX511, which was suffering from a massive wave of dead pixels after just two years of use.) But after I hooked it up to my Sony BluRay player, I discovered curious problems. The projector showed a blue screen (along with the HDMI Signal Searching message) when the Sony player was not showing a movie; the projector should be showing... Read more →

My new toy: VMultra drive

Brand-new from Velocity Micro is the VMultra drive. It is a USB-3.0 station that sports: 1 x SD card slot (SD, SDHC, MMC, but not SDXC) 2 x USB 3.0 ports 1 x USB 2.0 port DVD read-write 8x-speed drive (or optional BluRay drive) 500GB hard disk drive (or optional SSD drive, or no drive at all); it is a 7200rpm Western Digital "Black" drive attached with the SATA III connector. All this comes in a box about the size and twice the height of one of today's external DVD drives. I found the VMultra interesting, because (a) I wanted... Read more →

How to convert IMG files to VDI format

I want to try out the lateset release of ChromeOS on Oracle's VirtualBox operating system emulator. Problem is that the download file (from chromeos.hexxeh.net) is in IMG format. This format is used to burn an image of the operating system onto USB thumbdrives -- similar to the ISO format used to burn images to CDs and DVDs. Unfortunately, VirtualBox does not read IMG files. Fortunately, it does provide a utility to convert IMG files to VDI files. (I don't know why it doesn't simply read IMG files, like it does ISO files.) Unfortunately, using the converter is a bit annoying.... Read more →

The iMac's got "only one cord" -- or maybe it's eleven

A reader and I have been going back and forth on HP's claim that its new Z1 is the world's only 27" all-in-one, and you can read about our email-conversation in next week's upFront.eZine. He and I did a bit of digging to see if HP's claim is true, and it is when you include all three of HP's qualifiers. The full description from HP is: Introducing the HP Z1, the world's first: (a) all-in-one workstation (b) with a 27" (diagonal) display (c) that snaps open to let you swap out parts and make upgrades. Of course, Apple has its... Read more →

As fanbois tonite set their alarm clocks for 3am, others are passe

Canada's primary electronics chain, FutureShop, got some exposure in the local media yesterday for being excited about opening their stores at 8am Friday. (Normally, they open at 10am; staff tomorrow will be yawning.) No doubt that a certain hardware manufacturer required FutureShop to open at 8am to carry their new tablet product, whatever it might be. Actual screen grab from FutureShop's actual front page of their Web site this morning. We have an iPad in the Grabowski household, generously donated by IMSI/Design for testing iOS software related to their CAD products, such TurboViewer. When not in use for testing software,... Read more →

Fixing the wrong aspect ratio for HDMI monitor connection

I have an Apple Mac mini, which sports an HDMI port, with a 22" monitor with VGA, DVI, and HDMI interfaces. I was using the DVI connector, since the monitor included that cable. I wondered what it would be like to use the HDMI connector. DVI (digital video interface) and HDMI (high definition media interface) are the same, except for the following differences: DVI is video signal only HDMI transmits video and audio on one cable HDMI incorporates copy protection in an attempt to prevent you from syphoning off the signal and making copies, legal or illegal. DVI and HDMI... Read more →

Speeding up Windows 7 greatly -- for $40

I read yesterday of a blogger's enthusiastic endorsement of SSDs -- solid state drives. He replaced his desktop computer's hard drive with a 128GB solid state drive he had purchased from Amazon. (The drive kit included the software needed to transfer the data image from the old to new drives, so no need to reinstall all his software.) He wrote excitedly about the improvement in speed. This speed-up solution worked for him, because his old hard drive contained just 60GB of files, and because he has enough money laying around to pay the $250 for the new drive. The solution... Read more →

My new (wired) keyboard

As a full-time writer, I need a keyboard that works well for me. As a touch typist, the keys need to find my fingers; the keyboard needs to react quickly; the touch has to feel good. I had been using the wireless Wave keyboard that Logitech gave me about two years ago. I liked the wave shape and the multimedia controls. But I found that I could not type on it as quickly as I would like, and I seemed to make an inordinate number of splling erros. I think the problem is that the keypress is too deep, and... Read more →

When your wireless mouse acts up

My desktop computer uses a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse. The two used to be a matched pair, until the mouse's left button wore out. Although I disassembled it in an attempt to repair it, it appears that the left button was permanently pressed down. (It was pretty impressive seeing the amount of electronics squished inside for this six-button mouse.) I substituted an older wireless mouse, and kept on working. But every so often, it would not cooperate: Button presses did not register Moving the mouse failed to move the cursor Spinning the roller wheel did not scroll documents.... Read more →

Couple of Galaxy S tips

Thanks to Patrik Emin for these tips for those of use who use the Android-running Galaxy S cell phone from Samsung: Tip 1. Press the status bar (at the top of the screen) to see today's date. Tip 2. When auto-brightness is off, you can change the screen brightness manually by dragging your finger across the status bar. (To turn off auto-brightness: Settings | Sound and Display | Brightness and then turn off Automatic Brightness Adjustment.) And here's shortcut that I found: Tip 3. In the Home screen, you can go directly to one of the other six screens by... Read more →

Apple asks, "What PCs?"

FedEx is scheduled to deliver a MacBook to my door this afternoon, my first Macintosh computer. In anticipation, I thought I'd watch some movies at Apple's Web site to get me pre-familiar with this computer that runs a very different operating system than I am used to. I clicked on "PC to Mac: The Basics" and for the past few hours I've had this on the Apple Web page: Sigh. Is this how it will be from now on? Read more →

One year later: Logitech keyboard-mouse combo reviewed

It is too common in computing to not have long-term reviews of hardware and software, because one or five years later, the products are just about obsolete. Take the spate of "Windows Phone 7 in-depth previews" that appeared this morning. Clearly, the reviewers were released from the NDAs [non-disclosure agreements], and the previews [reviews of unreleased hardware and software] come pouring out. In addition to being told when they can talk about the new products, the bloggers were probably told what they can talk about. (I've never understood this orchestrated pre-release hoopala, especially so many months early. When this item... Read more →

Finding Eneloop batteries in Canada

Sanyo's Eneloop batteries are currently the best ones on the market. They are like NiMH rechargeable batteries but with one special feature: they hardly lose their charge. After a year of laying on the shelf, they still hold 85% of their charge. (Regular rechargeables are nearly dead after 30 days.) I was puzzled why they are not available in Canada, and so bought them from eBay, department store to the world. Yesterday, I think I figured out why: Loblaws. Yesterday I was in Real Canadian Superstore (owned by Loblaws) to buy HP inkjet cartridges (they have the lowest price, even... Read more →

Getting the tx1220 running again

I got my HP tx1220ca convertible (tablet notebook) running again through the use of the press-edge-of-palm-hard-on-JKL-keys-while-turning-on trick that Deelip had found for his "dead" tx2000 convertible. But I had to completely restore the operating system to the hard drive, for I had pulled to 200GB drive to use a portable drive. And had wiped it clean. I used the tx1220's restore CD to reinstall Vista. But of course it was the original Vista. The initial restore was followed by two days of further effort: 1. Restore the original Vista. Reboot several times. 2. Remove about 12GB of unwanted software (Norton,... Read more →

Sleepy USB ports still a problem in 7

Earlier I posted a solution to a bug in Windows 7 that causes the computer to lose contact with external drives, whether hard drives or USB keys. The bug in 7 causes Windows to power down the USB hubs, causing the contents of drives to disappear, and then the drives themselves to become invisible. The solution is to turn off the option that powers down the hubs. (Get into the Device Manager, and then in the Properties for every USB Root Hub, turn off the Allow the Computer to turn off this device to save power option.) The problem is... Read more →

Fixing the 4GB-Installed, 2GB-Usable Problem

I was shocked to discover yesterday that my 4GB desktop computer was using just 2GB. To see this for yourself, follow these steps: 1. Right-click the Computer icon on the Windows 7 desktop. 2. From the shortcut menu, choose Properties. 3. Notice the amount of Installed Memory (RAM). In my case, it read: Installed Memory (RAM): 4GB installed (2GB usable) Yikes! The problem is common to older operating systems, older motherboards, and 32-bit systems. Windows XP and older supports at most 3GB. Older motherboards support as little as 1GB. But my computer ran 7 on a motherboard that supports many... Read more →

Hey, HP tech support: Here's how to fix your tx1000/2000 distaster

Thanks to fellow blogger Deelip Menezes, I got my hp tx1000-series convertible notebook computer working again. He had the same problem on his tx2000, which has the same design flaw as the tx1000 -- something goes wrong and the computer no longer boots. However, he spent more time researching for a solution than I did, and he came across this one: 1. Press the palm of your hand hard on the J-K-L keys on the keyboard. 2. While pressing down, turn on the power. And, oh my goodness, it worked for me. Well, not right away. Since I thought this... Read more →

Blackberry is the New iPhone

I don't care about cells phones -- I just want them to make and take phone calls. But I am fascinated by Western society's fascination with the device, both from bloggers and the young community around my children (aged 19-23) and their friendship circles. And it appears that the Blackberry is the new iPhone. They see the iPhone for people who need to show off. They like the Blackberry for its instant-access keypad (no flipping, no sliding, no vague screen touching) and its larger-than-normal screen. Yesterday one daughter needed to replace the 7-year-old flip phone she'd been using. She picked... Read more →

When Good USB Keys Go Bad

Within one month, I had my two biggest USB keys go bad on me. Windows had spent a couple of weeks complaining about problems on my 16GB USB thumbdrive, and then one day the drive was no longer recognized by Windows or Linux. Right before my trip to Russia, I loaded my second biggest USB key with backup data. During the trip, I plugged the 4GB keydrive into my computer, and there was no recognition by Windows or Linux that it existed. Last night, I tried again. The 16GB one was still dead; but I noticed something different about the... Read more →

Apple Wins Mobile; Microsoft Keeps Desktop

Henry Blodget describes how Apple is the new Microsoft for mobile computing at Silicon Alley Insider. Now, I am no Apple phan (I own no Apple products, hardware or software) but I have admired their comeback story -- though not their arrogance, which is now getting the company into trouble. Mr Blodget's article contains several key phrases that show Apple's keen understanding of where some aspects of computing's next destinations are located: In reality, "music" and "phone calls" are just apps... Fortunately for Apple, iPods aren't really "music players," and the larger mobile platform market is very much alive. Not... Read more →

Adding a Monitor with DislayLink

DisplayLink technology lets you add another monitor to your computer when the graphics board lacks sufficient ports. Basically, it lets you attach a monitor to a USB port. This means that you can add a second monitor when your graphics board has just one connector; or a third monitor when you graphics board has two connectors. I find two monitors very useful: I do my primary work on the larger, higher-resolution screen in front of me, and have email and other utility software displayed on the smaller, lower-resolution screen at the side. My graphics board supports two monitors; why would... Read more →

Shrinking a Stubborn Volume

After successfully installing Linux Mint in dual-boot mode with Windows 7RC on my LG X110 netbook, and replacing the default Xandros EeePC Linux on my Asus Eee 701 netbook, I decided to add it to my HP notebook computer. Normally I would leave this notebook on the shelf for emergency use only. The TX1200-series of touchscreen notebooks were poorly designed: they run hot, the fan is on most of the time, and they break down -- a lot, according to another dissatisfied TX user I met in an airport. But I leave for my in-laws soon, and they live in... Read more →

Elecom Scope Node Mouse

While in Germany last month, my wife allowed me time in Saturn's Kudamm store -- seven stories of electronics that makes BestBuy look like a 7-Eleven. Generally, I don't buy electronics in Europe, because they're too expensive, there might be warranty problems, and returning a defective product to the store becomes r-e-a-l-l-y difficult once back home in North America. How expensive? Generally, computers and such are priced in Euros what I am used to paying in Canadian dollars -- about 60% more expensive. For instance, my LG netbook was $460 in Canada but e450 in Europe. Now, those prices need... Read more →

DisplayLink? Not Today

I've been reading about displaylink technology that acts like a wireless video cable. It comes in two parts: a USB transmitter that attaches to your desktop computer, and a VESA receiver that plugs into the VGA port of a distance monitor or projector. It would be the ideal solution for showing stuff that resides on my computer (one end of my office) through my projector (at the other end). Right now, I have to carry a notebook computer over to the projector, try and force the VGA cable on, and then sweat while hoping the projector and computer notice each... Read more →

The New Era of Good Enough

Over at Crunchgear, John Biggs asks, "Are we headed into an era of dumb tech?" I'd like to think we are. He asks the question on the heels of Cisco paying a half-billion dollars for the lowest of the low-end video camera makers, Flip Video. I was glad to read him saying what I've been preaching for several years now, that computer stuff is good enough now -- hardware, software, and accessories. After a decade of unparalleled one-upmanship -- the gigahertz race, the megapixel race, the storage race -- we are now hitting a wall. The devices we own are... Read more →

Netbooks Prove Microsoft's Inability to Design

The netbook is keeping the computer hardware business humming, after ASUS invented the category 1.5 years go. It is remarkable that a company that specializes in assembling computers for others was able to come up with a winning formula after software monopolist Microsoft failed when it defined a similar, yet pointless device, the UMPC -- short for ultra mobile personal computer. What sunk the UMPC was (1) it's price and (2) its touchscreen orientation. You may recall an earlier reference design by Microsoft that also sunk for the same two reasons: the TabletPC. Knowing how Microsoft thinks, the initially high... Read more →

I'd Like to See: Monitor Partitioning

My dad wanted a new desktop computer last fall, so I bought him one, complete with a 23" LCD monitor running at 2048x1158 resolution. Then he decided it was too confusing to have a notebook and a desktop computer, and gave the brand new system to me. The monitor is almost too big. Open a Web browser, maximize its window, and there is lots of blank space on either side of the Web page. Which got me to thinking... How if the operating system could partition the monitor, just as hard drives are partitioned. For example, partition by 2/3 and... Read more →

Warning: The Source Overcharges

Today's email blast from The Source (the Canadian version of Circuit City) highlights gaming computers. The first item is the ACER ASPIRE AM5700-E5731A DESKTOP COMPUTER GAMING BUNDLE, which comes with a 7200rpm 640GB hard drive. Red all-caps text, however, screams that you can UPGRADE TO 1TB FOR $650. Surely 1TB of RAM, I thought. After all, these days 1TB drives are under $200 and some even around $100. I checked the specs for the ACER ASPIRE AM7720-E7730A DESKTOP COMPUTER GAMERS BUNDLE but no, the extra $650 was for an added 320GB worth of disk space. Works out to $2.03 per... Read more →