W.I.L. Hardware Tech-News Highlights for September - December 2007

Systems

Your PC in 2008 and beyond – link.

Free computing! How to revitalize an older machine – link.

The Zonbu is a $99, 2-pound computer about the size of Apple’s Mac mini. It comes preloaded with a customized version of Linux and a set of basic applications, none of them from Microsoft. It has no CPU or drive, just 4 gigabytes of flash memory. The bulk of your files are stashed on the Web. The monthly fee ranges from $13 to $20 depending on remote storage used. Appropriately used, it is a killer product – review.

Zonbu releases a $279 15.4" laptop powered by a Via 1.5GHz C7-M – link.

One Laptop Per Child proves to be a hard sell – link.
The $100 laptop now the $188 laptop – link.
One Laptop Per Child organization sponsors give one, get one promotion – link.
Uruguay poised to make first governmental OLPC purchase – link.

Linux support at Dell – link.

CPUs, motherboards, chipsets

– AMD

AMD prepares three-core processors – link.

AMD releases Athlon 64 X2 5000+ 2.60GHz “Black Edition” chip for enthusiasts and gamers who dare to overclock and tweak their systems – link.

New AMD roadmaps appear – link.

Asus M2A-VM HDMI AM2 micro-ATX motherboard displays an impressive set of features for such a low price. The only major complaint is that the HDMI module requires the use of the PCI-E 16x slot – review.

– Intel

Intel chips to shrink to 32nm process by 2009, from current 65nm – link 1, link 2.

Intel promises a drastic performance increase for integrated graphics within 2 years – link.

nVidia launches GeForce 7 “mGPU” (motherboard GPU) chipsets with built-in graphics cores for Intel platforms. The integrated graphics processor (IGP) lineup consists of four solutions targeting different market segments. All of the chipsets will feature PCI Express x16 slots for add-in graphics cards – link.

Intel's D201GLY2 Mini-ITX mainboard sets a new standard for integrated motherboard manufacturers, with a stunningly low price and a reasonably complete feature set. One concern is the high CPU temperature without active cooling – review.

– Other

A technical look at Sun’s Niagara II chip, which is being positioned as a network facing chip rather than a back end number cruncher – link.

Graphics

To stay ahead in a merciless business, computer graphics champ nVidia is setting its own pace – link.

ATI Radeon drivers to be open sourced – link.

Nouveau project is working to produced its own set of fully functional free nVidia drivers – link.

Intel man touts real-time ray-tracing, but nVidia and ATI probably do not have to worry for a while yet – link.

nVidia GeForce 8800 GT pushes the performance bar in the $199-259 sector up much higher – link.

Memory, storage

Hewlett-Packard unveils a new data storage and communications technology – link.

Intel’s ONFI initiative brought in the last piece of the puzzle needed to make NAND flash the primary storage device of most PCs from late 2008 onwards – link.

Disk technology takes Nobel Prize – link.

Hard drives with flash cache fall short of expectations, HDD makers admit – link.

PerfectDisk 8.0 disk defragmenter from Raxco Software serves up pleasing results – review.

SATA 2.6 spec emerges from hiding – link.

Six 2.5" 160GB HDDs compared – roundup.

Western Digital Passport Mobile 250GB 2.5” HDD is an indisputable success, performance-wise – review.

Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD battle to last a while, analysts predict – link.

Cases, power supplies, cooling

Seasonic’s S12II series of PSUs, providing a range from 330W to 500W, will be attractive to anyone searching for a very silent PSU with good quality and performance. The price may cause users to think twice – review.

15 sub-1000W ATX PSUs compared – link.

Zippy Serene 600W is a very good PSU with the best quality possible in the areas of design and components. It demonstrates the best efficiency seen in a retail system, but is not the quietest unit out there – review.

Noctua moves to rescue Intel lastest chips from their own noise – link.

Scythe Ninja Mini CPU heatsink performed admirably despite its smaller size and 80mm fan, which allows it to be mounted in smaller cases. At full speed the fan’s level of noise was a little too high – review.

New chip-cooling technology promises a revolution. Could be introduced within three years if researchers are able to miniaturize it and make the system rugged enough – link.

Thermal transfer Material roundup 2007 – link. Discussion here.

Miscellaneous components and periferals

Wacom ships Intuos3 Special Edition professional graphics tablet to mark 25 years in the business – link.

Samsung’s SyncMaster XL20 LED-backlight monitor is an amazing imaging tool. The current price of over $1500 may seem high, but the closest competition comes from monitors whose prices start at over twice as much. The two downsides are that it consumes nearly 70W in normal use, and its fan is plainly audible in a quiet setting – review.

Thirteen 20” LCD monitors compared – roundup.

What is the top photo printer? – link.

Configuring your webcam to work under Linux – link.

How to give your low-end Canon digital camera RAW support – link.

Palm announces the cancellation of the Foleo mobile companion, citing the need to focus effort on Palm’s next-generation smartphone OS – link.

A pair of small Linux system reviews – link.

How to switch to VoIP phone service – link. VoIP quality improving, study says – link.