Archive for April 29th, 2008

AMD introduces Business Class desktops for the suits

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

by Darren Murph, posted Apr 28th 2008 at 8:20AM
What’s a flagging microprocessor company to do after an absolutely tumultuous 2007 (and start to 2008)? Why, dish out its own desktop family, of course! At least that’s what AMD is reckoning judging by the abrupt introduction of the Business Class desktop. Obviously the firm’s very first computer brand, the series is aimed at small and medium-sized businesses, but it’s noted that even the “biggest corporate clients” can find something to love. The company is planning to move the units via Acer, HP, Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens and Lenovo, and they’ll be available with Athlon X2 dual-core, Phenom X3 triple-core and Phenom X4 quad-core CPUs. Oh, and if you’re own outfit is totally over these “desktops,” AMD is looking to unveil Business Class laptops during the second half of 2008.

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Filed under: Desktops

Planex DigiJuke NAS snags YouTube and BitTorrent video — jams it down the Wii, Xbox 360, iPod… and throat of MPAA

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 28th 2008 at 3:01AMHere it is copyright bandits, the single biggest reason (besides silicone) to make a Hollywood studio notice you: the MZK-NAS02SG1T network attached storage device from Planex. The main selling point behind the ¥54,799 (about $524) 1TB Gigabit Ethernet block is the claim to “universal access” for all your devices. That little trick comes courtesy of its DigiJuke browser for searching and tagging the BitTorrent and YouTube content you want downloaded in the appropriate PSP and ipod (MPEG-4), Wii (FLV), or TV (MPEG-2) format for in-home or on-the-go viewing. The NAS also streams audio and video to your iTunes laptops or desktops, DLNA TV, Xbox 360, or other compliant device in the home. A front-facing USB 2.0 jack offers one-touch dubbing of USB sticks while a second around back offers ready storage expansion. It ships with a pair of 3.5-inch 500GB drive which you can swap out for higher capacity spinners at a later date. That is if the studios don’t shut you down first.

[Via Impress]

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Filed under: Home Entertainment, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Storage

TG’s 22-inch Lluon all-in-one PC heads to Best Buy

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

by Thomas Ricker, posted Apr 28th 2008 at 3:37AM
TG just announced that this unnamed all-in-one PC is heading for a Stateside retail launch courtesy of Best Buy. There’s not a lot to go on here besides a few pics. Nevertheless, a DVD drive, 2x USB and what appears to be a slot for memory cards, mic and audio jacks, and dedicated multi-media buttons adorning the right-side edge. Around back we find Ethernet, a composite video input, and a few more unidentified jacks which might be Firewire and USB. The big mystery here is the price and availability. Then we’ll know whether this pup can take the legs out from under Dell, Apple, and even Gateway in the US, all-in-one desktop game. Backside-front pictured after the break.

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Filed under: Desktops

PC makers want to extend XP’s life

Tuesday, April 29th, 2008

It goes to say a whole lot when even PC makers themselves want to extend Microsoft Windows XP’s shelf life beyond what the software giant themselves want. Currently, the deadline stands at June 30 where PC makers can no longer sell PCs with Windows XP after that date, and it is interesting to see some of the different PC makers take a creative approach to this apparent dilemma. Both HP and Dell plan to offer machines running on Windows XP way after June, taking advantage of the “downgrade rights” offered as part of the Windows Vista license agreement. Pretty interesting, as these computers are actually Vista Business or Vista Ultimate machines which have been factory downgraded to XP at the customer’s request. That’s the theoretical part, and we all know that rarely anything happens according to theory. Chances are these are XP machines that come with an already paid-for upgrade to Vista assuming the customer chooses to do so.

HP has given the final date where it will stop selling “pre-downgraded” desktops, notebooks, and workstations to its business customers - that is, until July 30, 2009. Dell, on the other hand, is trying to pitch a similar option on its online site while promising potential customers that its models will hang around long after Dell stops taking standard XP orders on June 18. Various other computer makers have yet to decide on a strategy, but they have expressed interest in selling Windows XP beyond Microsoft’s myopic June 30 date.

I don’t get it - why can’t Microsoft do the right thing and just extend the deadline? Windows XP is one of the most stable Windows builds ever, and with all the relevant service packs, it is one formidable operating system. There are tons of detractors for Windows Vista, so it is surprising to hear Microsoft saying that “customers and computer makers aren’t demanding a longer life for XP”. What a bunch of bollocks.

Source: News.com

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