Posts in Notebooks
Lenovo Vault external hard drive beefs up data security
Justin Yu | Nov 19, 2008
It's difficult for external portable hard drives to stand out against the competition since they're judged mostly on cost per gigabyte, connectivity, and aesthetics. Lenovo jumps into the game by making a case for onboard security.
Its ThinkPad "Vault" USB Portable Secure Hard Drive is protected by the "128-bit advanced encryption security standard" and is actually built into the hardware, similar to the Maxtor Black Armor drive. The Lenovo ThinkPad hard drive also has a built-in USB 2.0, as well as a physical keypad built into the face of the chassis, allowing up to 10 users and one administrator to access the drive using unique keychains.
The drive isn't cheap, though, as the company's asking US$179 for the 160GB drive and US$219 for the 320GB model. Ninety cents per gigabyte is a tough pill to swallow, especially when you consider the Iomega eGo Helium external hard drive only costs 45 cents per gig. Both versions will be available later this month--would you pay double the price just for the peace of mind that your data is totally safe? Let us know in the comments section!
Via CNET Crave
Apple issues fix for MacBook trackpad woes
Tom Krazit | Nov 18, 2008
If your new MacBook's glass trackpad was having problems recognizing your clicks, Apple has a fix available. (Credit: Apple/Josh Lowensohn)
Apple has released a firmware update for new MacBook and MacBook Pro owners bedeviled by their glass trackpads.
The update is designed to fix an issue with the new trackpads unveiled by Apple in October, which replace the traditional trackpad/mouse button combination with a trackpad that also serves as the button. The first few owners of those systems, however, reported a persistent problem in which clicks on the trackpad would not register.
Let us know if the firmware solves your problems or if you have any problems installing the update, which should be appearing in Software Update for owners of the new systems as we speak. Apple's release notes for the update can be found here.
Via CNET News
Samsung launches S series external storage
Darius Chang | Nov 17, 2008
External storage drives are so common, we almost never bother with press releases dealing with just another portable harddisk. However, Samsung's new S series external hard drives caught our attention because, in a nod to all things small, it includes a 1.8-inch version--the S1 Mini.
Unlike it competitors and DIY models in which the SATA to USB adapter is located on the enclosure itself, Samsung's portable drives integrate the USB controller directly onto the harddisk. According to the Korean maker, this results in a 17 percent size reduction and 30 percent less power consumption for the 2.5-inch S2 Portable. In addition, the bundle includes data security and auto backup software to bring more functionality to your investment.
The S series come with a three-year warranty and will be available in late November with four color choices-black, brown, white and red. Singapore will see the first units in the upcoming SITEX show on November 27. The 120GB S1 Mini cost S$199 (US$144.21), while the S2 Portable comes in 250GB (S$169 (US$122.47)), 320GB (S$199 (US$144.21)) and 500GB (S$289 (US$209.44)) capacities.
Skype wirelessly with Drone Bluetooth adapter
Dong Ngo | Nov 17, 2008
Most new laptops have built-in Bluetooth these days, but if yours doesn't, you might want to get what CallPod introduced as the Drone.
The Drone is not a regular Bluetooth adapter. It's a high-powered device that offers a range of up to 90m; that's about 10 times the range of regular Bluetooth devices.
Designed mainly for audio purposes, once plugged in, the Drone is recognized by a computer as a speaker. The Drone's built-in firmware then streams the computer's audio feed to Bluetooth headsets or speakers.
For this reason, the device is perfect for computer-based VoIP calling, and works with Skype, right out of the box. If you are listening to music when a Skype call arrives, the Drone automatically switches over the the call.
As an audio device, the Drone is 100 percent plug-and-play; software installation is only required for advance functions, such as data transfer.
The Drone Bluetooth adapter is A2DP-compliant and compatible with both PCs and Macs. It's available now for US$49.95, which is significantly more expensive than other regular Bluetooth adapters.
Via CNET News
Which PC maker will fare best in a bad economy?
Erica Ogg | Nov 17, 2008
Commercial and consumer spending on technology is expected to fall off in the next year, and the PC industry is bracing for the impact.
Already beginning to feel the effects of sagging average selling prices, thinning margins, and oversaturated markets in North America and Europe, there's clearly going to be a shakeout among the biggest players as the economy enters a full-blown recession (of course, many believe we're already in one).
Intel's warning this week that the company sees "significantly" lower demand for its chips signaled that the worst is still to come for PC makers as they navigate the current economic storm. So how will the five biggest producers of PCs, which account for about 54 percent of all PCs sold, fare as demand wanes and prices drop?
No surprise, it's Hewlett-Packard, the top PC vendor in the world for the last two years, that appears best positioned to weather a recession.
There's bound to be a whole lot of uncertainty among PC makers: Uncertainty about what's the right combination of products that will attract consumers during a recession and beyond, and fear of overproducing products that are too expensive for increasingly price-conscious consumers and budget-constrained IT departments.
In other words, with fewer people and businesses shopping for PCs, "where do you want to emphasize your opportunity" and pick up market share from competitors, said Richard Shim, PC industry analysis with IDC.
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