Ergo Keys: Any Way You Want Them — It’s Your Keyboard!

It seems like a pretty wacky idea, but having a keyboard that you can customize (I mean really customize) can make a lot of sense.

Ergodex's DX1 Input System is the first in a new category of input device that features movable programmable keys  -- and exceptional performance, especially for gamers, engineering professionals and artists (quite the grouping!).

The DX1 consists of a Pad on which you place individual Keys anywhere you want, and then you tell the computer what you want the Keys to do.

The DX1 Keys are assigned to match a single keyboard key, such as the letter "a" or to perform a more complex macro containing a series of keystrokes. Keys are also "application" aware, so as the user changes from, say, email to Photoshop, Keys automatically change to the macros for Photoshop.

Even though Keys contain advanced electronics, they have no batteries and no wires; they communicate wirelessly with the DX1 pad.

Ergodex’s "Molecular Velcro," an "inexhaustible adhesive", allows Keys to adhere tightly on the Pad, and a slight twist loosens a Key so it can be moved or micro-positioned for optimal placement.

MSRP: $149.95

www.ergodex.com or www.dell.com.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on October 4th, 2006 with no comments.
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Dell Does Recycling Right! F-R-E-E

Now we really have something good here with Dell’s announcement of its no-charge recycling program for U.S. customers. Let's just call it was it is -- free! The magic URL is www.dell4me.com/recycling.

(About time this got here -- Dell has offered a no-charge recycling program for Dell-branded products in Europe since November 2003 and currently offers no-charge consumer recycling in Canada.)

This recycling offer is designed for consumers and includes free pick-up of used Dell-branded computers and peripheral equipment. What's really nice is that this is not tied to a replacement purchase!

Consumers entering a product identification number online will be able to print a pre-paid shipping label and schedule a home pick-up for shipping the used computer.

)Maybe Dell should change the color of its logo to green?)

You can read the complete official Dell press release here.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on October 2nd, 2006 with no comments.
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More Sony Battery Woes — As in 7 Million … and Counting

7 million -- that's right.  That's what Sony's looking at with the latest news on a GLOBAL notebook battery recall.

We've got Apple, we've got Dell, Toshiba and Lenovo (IBM) all facing problems with Sony's batteries in their notebook computers.

I'd be worrying even if my notebook battery was part of this massive recall.

This seems to be one of those problems like spinach and E.coli that that just goes from bad to worse and beyond ...

... Is there more bad news on the way?

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on September 29th, 2006 with no comments.
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A Hot One for Lenovo!!!

Holy flaming laptops Batman!

Crazy stuff just keeps on happening in the saga of explodiing notebook computers.  Now we have Lenovo pledging today that public safety "will be the company's first priority" following an incident in which a Lenovo ThinkPad T43 laptop (with a Sony battery; any surprise there?) caught fire at Los Angeles International Airport recently. That's the culprit pictured at right.

(Now that's scary!)

Now Lenovo engineers are working around the clock at laboratories in Japan and Raleigh, N.C., to determine the cause of the fire. Seems no other laptops have met a similar fate, but makes you wonder if the laptop you have at home or in the office or on the train or on a plane with you may suddenly go crazy on you ...

Interestingly, the "fiery" T43 used the same Sony battery cells that were at the center of a recall of nearly 6 million Dell and Apple laptops earlier this year, but the battery pack has a different design than those of Apple and Dell. Lenovo's design is aimed at shutting down the system before it gets to the point of extreme overheating (always a good idea, I say!).

Computer Reseller News (or CRN to its fans) had some good coverage of this latest string of bad news for anyone who likes to be mobile and computing.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on September 26th, 2006 with no comments.
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Toshiba Battery Problems! Here We Go Again (Sony)!

Can you believe this?

Now Toshiba is recalling 340,000 batteries from their notebook computers that were made by (who else!) Sony  apparently because of problems with recharging them.

Interestingly, this problem is not directly related to the one behind last month's recalls by Dell and Apple that cited concerns the batteries could overheat and catch fire. This time, the batteries sometimes stop recharging or simply run out of power; no injuries have been reported.

Hey, let's do the numbers:

• Dell -- 4.1 million faulty batteries
• Apple -- 1.8 million
• Toshiba -- 340,000

(If we graph this numbers, does this indicate a downward trend in battery problems?)

The Toshiba recall involves batteries for Dynabook and Satellite models made from March through May; they will be replaced for free.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on September 19th, 2006 with no comments.
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Oh No! Another Notebook Ballery Recall!

As if we haven't already had enough (too much! actually), now Matsushita is recalling 6,000 notebook PC batteries that could overheat when subjected to a strong impact.

According to published reports (thank you, Reuters and VARBusiness for the news ...), a Matsushita spokesperson declined to identify the supplier of the batteries in question, but said that neither Matsushita (best know here for its Panasonic brand) nor Sony had made them.

(Sony and batteries ...)

When a notebook PC using the battery in question had been accidentally dropped on the floor or suffered any other strong impact, there was a chance that a tiny metal spring used in the battery pack could fall off and onto the battery cells, causing overheating. There have not been any cases of the batteries in question catching fire and no one had been injured.

The batteries are loaded in some of Matsushita's notebook PCs made in April and May 2005 and sold in Japan.

(Let's see if this bad news spreads to notebooks sold in the U.S. ...)

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on September 5th, 2006 with no comments.
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Apple’s Turn To Recall Notebook Batteries

What's going on here!

Now we have Apple recalling more than 1 million of its notebook batteries (try 1.8 million), accorded to an Associated Press story via CNN.

Seems the batteries were made by Sony; sound familiar?

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on August 24th, 2006 with no comments.
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How About a New Battery Standard?

With all of the noise about Dell's exploding batteries and increasing in-flight security precautions, isn't it about time that battery manufacturers got their act together to make better batteries?

Well, it doesn't take along ...

According to the always interesting AppleInsider, leading notebook makers Apple, Dell, and Lenovo will be holding a summit meeting next month to begin development of standards for the manufacture of lithium ion batteries for portable and handheld electronics.

You see, these companies are part of the OEM Critical Components Committee of the IPC-Association Connecting Electronics Industries -- an organization of 2,400 companies which represent all facets of the electronic interconnection industry, including design, printed circuit board manufacturing and electronics assembly.

Apparently the Committee had identified lithium ion batteries as the next product for standardization, but is going to accelerate its activities because of all of the recent (bad) news.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on August 24th, 2006 with no comments.
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The Hard Drive Hits 50

Not too many gadgets hit the age of 50, especially in the world of computers, but the hard drive is still going strong at 50 years of age!

(I never would have guessed!)

(An age that many may feel depressed about while looking longily at retirement, which looms not that far on the horizon).

Now, analysts are predicting that more drives will be sold over the next five years than in all the previous years combined.

The hard drive has become ubiquitous, being used in everything from iPods to TiVos to cars (that sounds funny)-- and still in computers, for that matter.

Nice brief from CEA Smartbriefs, which points to the always reliable The Mercury News, which has the whole great story.

And yes, that big bad thing to the left is the first hard drive, with 50 spinning, 24-inch-wide disks covered with red paint.

(Like the red paint touch -- wonder why they picked that color?  After all, it was an IBM product that came out of the lab in Silicon Valley -- San Jose, to be exact).

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on August 22nd, 2006 with no comments.
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Consumer Storage Demands Never Cease! But Help Is on the Way …

According to recent reports, our desire for storage continues to grow by leaps and bounds -- good thing we are storing 0's and 1's (digital data), not physical goods or we would all have to live in castles! (or at least very big houses).

(Look at that big analog storge pile!)

Hard drive manufacturers such as Seagate Technology, Western Digital and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies as well as flash memory providers, such as Samsung, are beefing up the technical capabilities of their products to meet consumers' growing storage needs.

Incredibly, flash memory capacity is doubling about every nine months, according to anaylst firm IDC (as captured by and the Associated Press), which forecasts that hard drive shipments will reach $41.5 billion in 2010.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on August 17th, 2006 with no comments.
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Dell Battery Recall: Too Hot To Handle!

While it may seem funny -- exploding laptops, burning laptop batteries -- make no joke about it, this is serious business.

Dell's announcement to recall 4.1 million notebook batteries (made by Sony) is scary stuff if you have seen the destruction a burning notebook battery can cause or have read about the numerous instances of fires at factories, on plane, in cars, etc., apparently caused by these batteries.

Follow the sage advice and remove the battery and run the laptop on AC power until a replacement battery is received.

The Dell website at www.dell.com has detailed information or you can click here to read the recall notice.

Don't wait!

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on August 15th, 2006 with no comments.
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Mac vs. Windows: Considering a Switch?

With all of the excitement around Apple and little (or at least not so much) around Microsoft computer products and gadgets, many may be thinking of switching from a PC to a Mac.

(Not too many going the other way ...)

Well, if that's the case, check out the fine article in yesterday's New York Times' "Circuits" section.

Anybody what to counter any of those observations?

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on August 11th, 2006 with no comments.
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Intel Adding Power (Wtih Micron) & Going Green

As the demand for energy conservation continues to grow, corporations are tailoring their products to better meet consumers' needs.

Intel underscored this trend when it unveiled 10 new Intel Core 2 Duo and Core Extreme processors earlier this week. The new processors are designed to conserve energy by more than 40 percent while simultaneously running numerous applications at faster speeds.

(Faster, better, cheaper anyone?)

Intel officials say these new processors enhance high-definition video playback, protect a PC and its assets during e-commerce transactions and offer a longer battery life.

In related news, Intel and Micron Technology jointly announced that they are working together to develop a new, more powerful flash memory chip designed to offer greater capacity for mobile devices and other consumer electronics. (This according to Newsfactor.)

The new chip technology offers 4Gb of memory, whereas the current generation of flash memory, like that which used in MP3 players, typically reaches only 1Gb.

Engineered through IM Flash Technology, a joint venture of both companies, the smaller-sized flash chips could provide more memory for storing more songs on portable music devices or more pictures in a camera phone.

To get the full picture, visit www.newsfactor.com

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on July 28th, 2006 with no comments.
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Dell Plunges into Retail: Why Oh Why?

Earlier this week, Dell officially opened its first U.S. retail store (can you believe it!) in its home state of Texas -- Dallas to be precise.

(No, that's not the new store in the photo; it's the corporate headquaters in Round Rock, Texas.)

Word is the new store carries Dell's high-definition TVs, desktops, notebook PCs, printers and other devices like digital cameras and MP3 players.  (So this looks more like a "digital CE lifestyle" play ...)

Del currently has 170 kiosks throughout the country and is planning to open an additional U.S. store in West Nyack, NY, later this year.

(You have to wonder why West Nyack?  It's not exactly a close suburb of NYC; would think you'd at least go for one of the many malls in New Jersey ...)

Haven't they learned from all of the other electronics companies that have gone this route? Then again, with their direct sales model, what CE retailer is going to want to stock Dell products?

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on July 27th, 2006 with no comments.
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NewerTech miniStack v2 Goes Large

It's funny how your never have enough storage on your computer.  (It's like always wanting one more room in a house -- or at least one more closet.)

Now storage has become increasingly important for holding all of our new digital media files (music, photos, videos) as well as all of the other stuff on our computers.

It's also become increasingly important to back up all of our precious digital data -- and we all back up regularly, don't we?

(We don't?)

The easiest way to add storage is to add an external drive (much easier than opening up the "box" to poke around inside with slots, cables, static electricity, etc.). WIth that in mind, the NewerTech miniStack v2 features up to 500 gigabytes (GB) of high-speed bootable storage; integrated, powered FireWire and USB 2.0 hubs; intelligent thermal monitoring; and auto power convenience with manual engagement option.

The award-winning box works with any Mac, PC, or Linux computer with an available FireWire or USB port. (Probably best with the Mac Mini -- exact footprint, design engineering and color.)

Features include:

• USB port and FireWire port located on the left side for more convenient connections
• USB 2.0 High-Speed 3-Port Hub
• FireWire 1394A 3-Port Repeater/Hub
• Switch for Firewire or USB hard disk mode
• Smart interactive cooling system with thermal probe automatically regulating fan speed
• Massive passive heat sink to radiate heat away from hard drive
• Smart power switch (powers up and down in tandem with Mac Mini
• Special micro security slot designed to allow it to be anchored to a desk

Pre-configured solutions also include EMC Retrospect Backup and Intech HD Speedtools.

New pricing for the NewerTech miniStack V2 250 GB unit is $189. The miniStack V2 also is available without a hard drive in a 0GB "Add Your Own Hard Drive" enclosure kit for $79.95.

www.NewerTech.com

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on July 25th, 2006 with no comments.
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A Joy Good Fellowes!

Ergonomics is big if your a PC gamer, emailer, IMer, surfer or use the PC for anything else.

(There's nothing worse that tired hands, wrists, etc., when you've been at the keyboard all day, unless it's a tired brain, don't you think).

Well, Fellowes has carved out a niche for itself in this area with their excellent keyboard drawer line. They also make monitor, printer and telephone stands; keyboard arms; wrist supports; copyholders; and foot and back rests.

(This is their "workspace ergonomics" line -- but no reason it couldn' be called "funspace ergonomics" line, instead.)

Its Office Suites Deluxe Keyboard Drawer with Soft Touch Wrist Rest offers exceptional comfort and support -- and we've been through many other  models that don't do either very well.

The keyboard tray is easy to customize and can be installed at three different heights for comfort or to clear other stuff under your desk -- like file cabinets. The mouse tray mounts on either the left of right side of keyboard tray and can be slid underneath it when not in use. (Less clutter on the desktop -- always a good idea!)

Other features include a gel-like wrist support which can be affixed to the front of the keyboard tray and ball-bearing glide tracks to keep the drawer sliding easily.

Suggested price: $55.00

www.fellowes.com

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on July 19th, 2006 with no comments.
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Go Greener PCs: Consumers Willing To Pay More

A "Green PC" early "Weekend Update"!

According to reports from the BBC News, PC users "want greener machines" and are  willing to pay more to have them -- up to an extra £108 ($197) for a PC containing fewer chemicals. The nine-nation research found that UK computer users were willing to pay an extra £64 ($117), while people in China were prepared for spend up to £108 ($197) for a more environmentally sound PC.

Research also shows that people also feel that manufacturers should take responsibility for the disposal of old machines.

So-called "e-waste" is a growing global problem, with 30 million PCs being dumped each year in the U.S. alone.

The study by Ipsos-Mori was done for Greenpeace.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5107642.stm

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on July 14th, 2006 with no comments.
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“Green Dell”: Dell Trying To Get Recycling Right

Dell has announced plans to provide free recycling of any Dell-branded product for consumers around the world as part of its new global recycling policy. (Does Dell have a windmill farm, too? But I love this graphic.)

"We have a responsibility to our customers to recycle the products we make and sell," said Michael Dell, chairman of Dell. "Our direct relationships with consumers allow us to offer this easy and free service and we encourage others in our industry to do so as well." 

Currently, Dell offers consumers no-charge recycling of any brand of used computer or printer with the purchase of a new Dell computer or printer. This service includes home pick-up of the used computer at no charge.

Under its new policy, Dell will provide consumers no-charge recycling of any Dell-branded product, regardless of whether a replacement product is purchased.

Plans call the service to become available in the U.S. by September and globally by November. It is currently available in Europe.

Dell's U.S. consumer recycling offer is available at http://www.dell.com/recycling.

For died in the wool greenies, Dell's new global recycling policy can be viewed at www.dell.com/environment.

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on June 29th, 2006 with no comments.
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(Good) Fellowes Makes It Easy To Work & Play

We all spend too much time at the computer, whether at work or at home. (What did we ever do in our free time before that gadget was invented?)

With the idea of making that desktop experience as humanly comfortable as possible, Fellowes offers a full line of "workspace ergonomics" products that make it easy on the body. These include wrist supports, copyholders and both foot and back rests.

Fellowes' Office Suites Deluxe Keyboard Drawer (pictured) offers exceptional comfort and support whether you're working or playing. The keyboard tray is easy to customize and can be installed at three different heights to suit your preferred position.

The mouse tray mounts on either the rright or left side of keyboard tray and stows underneath it when not in use. Features include a wrist support on the keyboard tray (aah!). 

How about some specs:

• Installation height: 2-1/2", 2-1/8" or 1-3/4" below desk
• H x W x D (inches) 2.5" x 30.875" x 14.0625"
• H x W x D (mm) 63.50 x 784.20 x 357.20

Don't settle when it comes to keyboard drawers -- this is the one to get.

Suggested Price: $55.00

www.fellowes.com

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on June 21st, 2006 with no comments.
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Power To the People (Chicago Travelers At Least)

Interesting piece in today's Chicago Sun-Times about a plan to give traveler's free access to power up their laptops and other mobile devices at O'Hare and Midway airports. (No more looking for an open duplex -- maintenance -- outlet in any of the seating areas?)

Last month, 40,000 air travelers paid $6.95 daily for the right to access the Internet at O'Hare and Midway airports. But what good is wireless Internet access if passengers have no place to recharge their dying BlackBerries, PDAs and laptop computers?

Newly appointed Chicago Aviation Commissioner Nuria Fernandez has been asking herself that question after strolling through passenger terminals, only to find desperate travelers sitting on the floor hogging electrical outlets reserved for maintenance equipment.

The plan is to open 25 "Re-charge and Relax" stations -- 21 at O'Hare and four at Midway; eight stations at O'Hare and two at Midway are to open by September. The rest will debut in January.

We can only hope that this good idea will spread around the country -- and fast!

www.suntimes.com

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on June 19th, 2006 with no comments.
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Bigger Is Better Notebooks Are Coming

I thought notebook computers were supposed to be small (hence "notebook" in the first place).

Well, according to eWeek Magazine, Dell, Acer and Samsung are testing the waters for super-sized laptop computers that look more like briefcases than notebooks.

Driven as much by technology as demand, these new notebooks with 19- and 20-inch LCD monitors are looking for an audience -- high-end gamers, not mobile executives?

Acer was displaying its 20-inch mega-model this week in Taipei at Computex, the world's second largest computer show, while Dell was also targeting high-performance aficionados when it announced the release of its 20-inch laptop model last week (that's the one in the photo). Samsung's model comes with a detachable screen so that users can hook it up to their desktop monitors. Prices? Not cheap -- try $2,700 to more than $5,000

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on June 9th, 2006 with no comments.
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Dell Does (A Little More) Retail; Dell Dude, Where ‘R U?

Seems like Dell, which defined a new direct sales ("pay for it and we will build it for you") model is now moving away from that a bit with more retail presence.

Apparently, Dell is adding to their kiosk presence in various spots, but will not actually sell products from these larger retail spaces (don't want to copy the failed model of the Gateway stores, I'm sure).

Failing to meet Wall Street expectations is behind this latest move -- retail customers will still have to order online and buy a Dell (sure they want move away from all of those HP and other computers begging to be bought at Circuit City, Best Buy, etc.).

BTW, whatever happened to the Dell Dude? (Clue: Adweek blogs have a not-entirely up-to-date update.)

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 24th, 2006 with no comments.
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Much Ado About Dell

Seems like losing market leadership to another company is enough to make anyone crazy -- and Dell is no exception.

Fresh from less than stellar recent news, Dell is moving to chips from AMD rather than Intel, planning to hire more customer service reps to battle some very bad press in that area (and maybe they can be English speaking) and vowing to become more aggressive.

Now in computer market terms, aggressive can mean many things, but will be interested if Dell is getting more aggressive in its pricing -- the sales they run every week or so have some great deals (but it always pays to shop around ...).

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 19th, 2006 with no comments.
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A Dell Mac?

Anybody think there's much to the buzz last last week about Michael Dell putting the Mac OS into a Dell PC?

It would be nice to see how low the price would be, but what would be product be named?

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 8th, 2006 with no comments.
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APC’s Universal Notebook Battery: Goin’ Mobile!

You know from an earlier blog that I’m a big fan of American Power Conversion’s (APC) power availability and protection solutions.

Wanted to update you on its new Universal Notebook Battery 65 Wh (UPB60), which was introduced earlier this year along with its Universal Power Adapter and Power Port Accessory.

The Universal Notebook Battery is a thin, lightweight, portable notebook battery that provides up to six hours of runtime, depending on a computer’s size and configurations. And yes it really is lightweight, weighing only 1.64 lbs. or 0.75 kg – what a relief from other earlier models that often seemed to weigh more than the notebook itself!

Easy to set up, with a voltage selector switch and LEDs that indicate remaining power capacity, it is ideal for long business trips or charging the notebook’s battery when AC power is not available. It’s perfect for long coast-to-coast flights or for flights that take on epic proportions due to flight delays and missed connections, which are becoming all-too-common.

It comes with a wide selection of tips to fit notebooks from practically every leading brand, including Acer, Apple, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, HP, HP Compaq, IBM, Mitac, Panasonic, Sony and Toshiba. My Dell Inspiron 600M needed a special tip, which is available free from the company. My takeaway: An essential tool for anyone going mobile with their notebook (and isn’t that what it was intended for?)

Estimated resale price: $149.99.

www.apc.com

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 4th, 2006 with no comments.
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Konica Minolta Magicolor 2450: A Magical Color Laser Printer

Everybody may talk about how great their HP printers are, but there are some very good choices out there if you want to break away from the crowd. I’ve been testing the Konica Minolta Magicolor 2450 for some time now, and this one color laser printer that provides “workhouse” capabilities at 5 pages-per-minute (PPM) color and 20 PPM black & white.

A true desktop printer that fits easily into any environment, the Magicolor 2450 is designed for easy use. The pre-installed 4,500-page toner cartridges mean the machine is up and running in just a few minutes. Auto-run installation software automatically detects the printer on your network and guides you step-by-step through set-up. Comprehensive printer drivers simplify printing with options such as collation, fit-to-page scaling, separation pages, watermarks, tray selection, and secure printing, while the Desktop Status Monitor utilizes a pop-up window on your screen for notification of print job status and supply levels.

The PageScope suite of printer management utilities provides real-time consumables status, as well as remote printer management and configuration. Simple, full-front access makes it easy to reload supplies and clear paper jams (come on, every printer gets them once in a while), so there's no need to access the back of the machine. Now let’s get technical (and under the hood).

Output is brilliant, consistent color, with 9600 x 600 dpi-class Photo ART contone resolution generating more than 4,000 colors per dot to provide enhanced photographic detail and smooth color gradients. Enhanced Automatic Image Density Control (eAIDC) automatically calibrates the printer so you can count on consistent, accurate color from the first page to the last. Automatic ICC-based color matching provides single-button controls for automatic color correction of print files.

The Simitri Polymerized Toner produces sharp output, fine text and better halftones. It also reduces toner consumption by up to 30%, keeps the printer cleaner and is more environmentally friendly than other toner technologies.

PostScript 3 and PCL 6 printer emulations support popular software applications, allowing the seamless creation and processing of all your color documents. Window and Macintosh system compatibility offers support for mixed workgroups and networks.

The net net: Great color laser printer at a price that won’t break the bank.

http://printer.konicaminolta.com/products/

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Written by VoIP & Gadgets Blog on May 3rd, 2006 with no comments.
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