Hardware

A new, simplified desktop computer aimed at older people unfamiliar with PCs and the Internet has been unveiled. SimplicITy only has 6 buttons that direct users to basic tasks like email and chat. It comes preloaded with 17 video tutorials from ... Valerie Singleton, a television presenter. According to government figures, there are more than 6 million people over the age of 65 who have never used the Internet. SimplicITy produces the specialty PCs in partnership with Wessex Computers and discount-age. It takes users two weeks to receive their made-to-order computers. SimplicITy: No Log-in Screen ... (view more)

Worldwide shipments of netbooks are expected to double this year, despite sales of other portable computers being set to flatline. It appears the growth is down to cost, with many buying netbooks as second machines. The forecast comes from ... researchers DisplaySearch, which expects netbook shipments to rise from 16.4 million last year to 32.7 million. Shipments are the number of computers sent to retailers and are a common method of measuring "sales" as they are easier to track. The firm had been predicting 27.5 million netbook shipments this year but has revised that figure based on ... (view more)

Is it just me, or does it seem strange that netbooks are getting bigger? The slim, lightweight, and reasonably powerful sub-10" laptops that have captured the hearts of penny-pinching Americans mired in a recession are steadily growing outwards from ... their 7" and 8.9" roots. HP started the trend with the release of its 10.2" HP Mini 1010 last year. Boasting a 92% full size keyboard, the Mini matched smaller netbooks in power while adding a much-needed punch of size and style. Unfortunately, the Mini costs just under $500 in most places, making it a runner-up to the cheaper Acer Aspire One ... (view more)

It's been some time since we had a massive laptop battery scare; breaking the stalemate is computer hardware giant Hewlett-Packard, which recently announced a recall of some 70,000 notebook battery packs for PCs across both the United States and ... Canada. The recall was issued on Thursday, May 14th, and includes lithium-ion batteries HP worries could overheat, "posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers." A Familiar Issue for HP In a report submitted by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, or CPSC, HP and Health Canada revealed that in at least two instances batteries " ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader 'Kim' writes: " Dear Dennis, I am studying photography and I need an easy to use external harddrive (HD) to store lots of memory. Could you please suggest a good exterior hard drive. By the way, what is the difference between ... eSATA, Firewire and USB external HDs? " My Response: There is an easy answer to your question, but let's first break down the basics to better understand what your options are. Acronyms: eSATA, USB, and Firewire: What does it mean? USB stands for Universal Serial Bus. eSATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. Firewire is not an acronym ... (view more)

Infopackets Reader Rick M. writes: " Dear Infopackets, I really enjoyed your article that compared 32 bit vs 64 bit (CPU / Operating Systems); however, I did notice the article was dated back in 2006. Is there a later evaluation of the 32bit versus ... 64bit? I'm in the market for a new computer and want to make sure the programs on my 32 bit Windows XP will work on a 64 bit of Vista. If so, where do I find it? " My response: If you are looking for a new computer, one of the biggest decisions that you will have to make is whether to go with a 32-bit or 64-bit operating system. On the surface it ... (view more)

An interesting little piece of hardware promises to eliminate wasted upload time when sharing computer files, while reducing stresses associated with forgetfulness. The Pogoplug is a simple device that remotely accesses and shares files on a home ... computer over the Internet. Users connect the Pogoplug to their home network router (via an Ethernet cable), plug in a USB hard drive into Pogoplug, and the device pretty much does the rest. Leave Your Flash Drive and Worry at Home Since the files from your home hard drive are accessible via the Internet, forgetful people never again have to worry ... (view more)

Let's face it, the most infuriating part of owning a laptop computer is a dead or dying battery. It seems no matter how long a battery lasts, it's never quite long enough. Take heart, notebook users: Hewlett-Packard has now released batteries that ... it promises will never lose their capacity. Well, let me correct that: they certainly won't last forever. Instead, HP says they won't lose their capacity over the lifetime of the notebook, which it believes should be around three years. Given that many of us use our laptops much longer than three years (hey, not all tech people embrace change), HP ... (view more)

AsusTek Computer Inc., a multinational manufacturer looking to put into practice the mantra that "less is more" recently released the Eee Top, a bare-bones version of the classic laptop filled with only the most essential features. It seems as if ... every new tech device released these days tries to lure consumers by the number of applications it can offer. But what if the majority of consumers only really use their devices for one or two things? Meet the kitchen computer The drive towards cutting corners has led to low prices and small size. Referred to as the "kitchen computer," the Eee Top ... (view more)

Porsche recently unveiled an optional exhaust system that, upon the push of a button, actually makes the guttural roar of the sleek 911's tail pipe that much more impressive (uh, in other words, louder). None of that solar-powered , hydrogen-based, ... electric-driven alternative fuel source stuff for Porsche. Instead, here's a scenario it feels prospective owners of luxury cars will identify with: you're driving a loaded, bright red Porsche 911 along the packed downtown core of your local city on a cool but comfortable summer Saturday night. Just about everyone is taking in the flashing lights ... (view more)