Have Laptop Will Travel

HP aims to lower power consumption in three years

Originally posted on January 10, 2008 @ 11:34 pm

The recently concluded Consumer Electronics Show may be an exercise in consumerism but sometimes something noble comes out of it. Take for example the recent announcement of HP that it is committed to cut the energy consumption of its products by 25 per cent by 2010. This includes all of its desktop and laptop offerings.

This is good news because a lower power draw on electronic products means that energy consumption could also lessen, which in the end will have a positive impact on the global energy problem and the global warming. I know that we’re just talking about one company here. But one company taking a step in the right direction could lead to more companies following in its footsteps and I’d like to think that this would cumulatively bring really positive benefits on a global scale. That’s reason for optimism, right?

Alternative power sources for your laptop

Originally posted on October 3, 2007 @ 11:46 pm

laptop junkies are also juice freaks.

No, I do not mean slushies or smoothies. I am referring to the constant need for electricity to power up their laptops wherever they go. Let’s face it, even with 8-cell batteries, at some point in the day you will have to look for an electrical outlet to charge your laptop if you are a heavy user. Unfortunately, free outlets could be hard to come by especially if you are always on the go. Because of this, most laptop users look for alternative power sources for their gizmos. One of the first popular alternatives was the Solio Charger, which was not only functional — it actually looked good, too. But even with a successful design, a product still needs to evolve to capture a larger share of the market, and this is where the Hybrid1000 comes in. This product is a more rugged version of the Solio Charger — and it really takes its outdoors look seriously. It comes with a weatherproof case and is said to withstand hard drops (but, really, does anyone really test if an expensive product is “drop-proof”?).

Phoenix goes into Hyperspace

Originally posted on November 5, 2007 @ 11:12 pm

Newer model laptops and notebooks are getting faster and faster load up or boot up times. But for on the go professionals, a wait of a few seconds is still a long one. Is there really a way to make applications run faster in a “portable” environment?

Phoenix Technologies think that they have the answer as it introduces its newest product called Hyperspace. The product lets PCs run applications that independent of the operating system. To put it simply, a Hyperspace equipped PC can quickly boot to a secure Linux environment and from there use such applications as a web browser and other apps like Picasa, Google Earth, etc.

The product cannot be installed at the end user level only manufacturers or middle level IT technicians in corporate environments can install Hyperspace. This is because it is not installed within the OS but within the machine’s firmware.

This new technology is one that should be watched as it could actually bring in more Linux converts in the long term and probably even pose a threat to Microsoft’s dominance in the OS sector.

Oink is no more

Originally posted on October 23, 2007 @ 11:35 pm

Ab ig blow was dealt to the global torrent community today when the popular music tracker Oink.cd was shut down by authorities.

Oink was an invite only music torrent site that has acquired a reputation for having some of the best music releases on the internet. It has become a haven for hardcore music fans — the type who needs a daily fix of new music and who want to listen to albums first on MP3s before deciding to buy albums.

the raid was done by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, which has an affiliation with the RIAA. According to the IFPI, they conducted a two year investigation into Oink before mounting the raid. I’ve seen a newsfeed from the BBC regarding this raid and that “two year” claim seems highly suspect. A number of accusations were so obviously erroneous. First, Oink did not ask members to pay for a subscription. Second, Oink was only a tracker and never released the music files themselves.

I have  very firm stand about the insistence of the music industry to desperately implement copyright issues in a world that has already changed. The music industry should change its old, and obviously outdated practice and begin to change with the times.

Oink, you will be forever remembered.

OLPC Foundation announces production of low cost laptops

Originally posted on November 7, 2007 @ 11:43 pm

I have always been a firm believer of the aims and goals of the One Laptop per Child Foundation. I really believe that giving children in the developing world access to information and computers will have a tremendous impact not only on these children on a personal level but also on their respective countries in the future.

Thus, it was with great excitement when I read that the Foundation announced that production of new affordable computers have already begun.

According to the Foundation, Quanta Computer of Taiwan has commenced commercial production of its product — a lime green and white XO laptop computer. Already, orders have come in from Uruguay and Mongolia. The computers will also be made available to American and Canadian children through a 399 dollar holiday charity program that would subsidize the purchase of a second machine for children in other countries.

The XO laptop runs on Linux and is designed primarily for elementary school children. This early, is already proving to have an impact on the computer industry. The Fondation, which was founded by Nicholas Negroponte, is already creating ripples in the market, leading other manufacturers to produce their own versions of low cost computers for the consumption of target audiences like women and children.

I really think that that OLPC initiative will benefit us consumers in the long term. I envision laptops to drop prices significantly in the next four to five years and eventually achieving a critical pricepoint where they can viably compete with desktops.