http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/links Latest links, updated every five minutes http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-30685_3-10406318-264.html?part=ecoustics-cnet With an experimental project, Dell has adapted Google's browser-based operating system to its Mini 10v Netbook. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:03:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/howto/181120 Even if your PCs meet the Windows 7 minimum system requirements, there are a variety of other issues to consider with existing software and peripheral hardware devices. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 09:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/news/174071 PC vendors are rolling out a wave of new systems that incorporate Windows 7's multitouch features. It remains to be seen, however, whether the overnight success of touchscreens in the smartphone world translates to the desktop/laptop PC market. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:34:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13772_3-10353479-52.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Aimed at reducing spending on IT infrastructure, as well as cutting the environmental impact of such systems and streamlining government IT processes, the effort will likely take years to implement. Tue, 15 Sep 2009 15:24:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/reviews/170705 The a6710t minitower value PC is one of the better $500 systems we've seen, but it isn't without its drawbacks. Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20787 Computer maker Dell has wasted no time getting out the door with new systems offering Intel's latest desktop processors, announcing its new Studio XPS 8000 and 9000 models, available with either Intel Core i5 or the latest Intel Core i7 processor. The Studio XPS 9000 is a full-sized traditional PC tower, while the Studio XPS 8000 is more of a mini-tower design for the space conscious—or folks who don't see themselves loading up with oodlRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:30:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/eMachines_EZ1601_01/4505-3118_7-33721162.html?part=ecoustics-cnet If you must buy a Nettop, the eMachines EZ1601-01's large screen and category-competitive components make a decent argument for its value among other systems like it. One look at a true budget desktop, or even a Netbook, and the appeal of this system diminishes quickly. Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:38:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-17938_105-10306152-1.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Dell's 12-inch Netbook has officially been given the boot, while the 9-inch, which had been pulled off Dell's official list of systems in June, is still available in a handful of configurations. Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:32:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13860_3-10285117-56.html?part=ecoustics-cnet In a new poll, 60 percent of IT administrators said they have no plans to move to Redmond's new operating system. Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:01:44 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/reviews/168125 Like many network administrators, I use Nagios to monitor my network. Nagios is an open-source network monitoring system that uses SNMP, Perl, and other... Thu, 09 Jul 2009 10:50:14 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/20260 It doesn’t have a great name – the Livestock Identification Tracking System – but it’s cow chipping by any name. Created by Virtual City using Microsoft technology, it uses radio frequency identification (RFID) to keep track of cattle in Kenya, according to a Microsoft blog post.The tag goes in the cow’s stomach (no word on which one, or how it doesn’t end up coming out again) and keeps information on the cow’s origin, previous owners and medical history that’s transmitted by SMS, which means a decrease in administrative costs, helps stop fraud and eventually helps the country’s beef expoRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/ah/reviews/projectors/benq-joybee-gp1-led Projectors have gone through several iterations in the time I've been around. From old, clunky CRT systems to DLP and LCD systems, projectors have gotten brighter, smaller and more feature-rich. But with the introduction of the BenQ Joybee GP1, LED lighting is now taking front projectors where they have never been. With LED lighting, even a DLP projector can be smaller, lighter and more versatile than its UHP or similarly lighted counterparts. The projector is literally smaller than a stack of CDs, smaller than a Mac Mini, and smaller than my outstretched hand. Yet this incredibly tiny projector puts out 100 lumens from its single LED lamp, making it bright enough to light up an 80 inch screen in a darkened room. Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:06:20 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/19680 Intel's Atom processor is the heart behind most netbooks on the market today, but (as any gamer or video fiend will tell you) the integrated graphics controller doesn't offer enough horsepower for serious entertainment. Graphics developer Nvidia is looking to change that with its Ion platform, which grafts its GeForce 9400M graphics system onto the Intel Atom processor, with performance that the company says will bring gaming and high-definition video to Atom-powered PCs. Today at a press event in New York, Acer unveiled what may wind up being the first Ion-equipped Atom-based PCs that will reach consumers: its newRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10212766-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet The Haystack system is custom-built but relies on content delivery networks and NetApp. Now Facebook is trying to minimize the custom stuff. Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:41:28 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/ah/reviews/portables/ballistix-aura-pro-tour-backpack The Slappa Ballistix Aura Pro-Tour Backpack is a gear-lovers dream system for porting your equipment around town or across the country. This bag has it where it counts, with a top-loading removable storage system, padded laptop storage, comfortable shoulder straps and enough mini compartments to carry all the accessories in the known universe... OK, maybe only half of all known accessories. Mon, 09 Mar 2009 01:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/reviews/160870 The Mac mini, waiting patiently on the sidelines for the past 17 months, has finally been refreshed. Though the new systems... Fri, 06 Mar 2009 20:20:12 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/look/283 As Sony’s aggressive line of car speakers and UFO-like mini-systems indicate, the company has never been shy or understated in the design of its audio equipment. Though its new MDR-EX500LP earbuds don’t promise to blow out your ears with a name like Xplod, the pair that tops Sony’s new EX line certainly haven’t gone quietly on style.Upon first inspection, the first thing that stands out about the EX500 are their disc-like drivers. Unlike a traditional earbud that has the flat portion of drive pointing directly into the ear,...Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Fri, 06 Mar 2009 03:00:00 -0500 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/555887.html Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:34:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/19376 Speculation and rumor has been building for months that Apple would be launching new desktop systems…and today the news has dropped, and Apple updating both it's consumer-oriented Mac mini and iMac desktop systems, along with its Xeon processor-equipped Mac Pros aimed at high-end computing and media production professionals.The diminutive Mac minis have received a significant update, now sporting 2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs and support for up to 4 GB of RAM, up to 320 GB of hard drive storage, a 1066 MHz system bRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 03 Mar 2009 12:00:00 -0500 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-17938_105-10186419-1.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Apple updates Mac Mini small form factor desktop systems Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:40:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/19210 You might be used to hearing 0% financing in car ads, but for business computers and servers? Yet that’s what Dell is offering in a new, special program.To qualify, a business will need to lease a minimum of $25,000 in both Latitude notebooks and PowerEdge server systems for 36 months, and undertake the deal before May 1. At the end of the lease period, buyers will have the option to purchase the equipment for an additional $1.But this isn’t the first 0% deal for businesses, according to Vnunet. It follows a similar Dell offer, and one from HP on servers.Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 12 Feb 2009 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/19198 Last week hackers managed to infiltrate the computer system of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stealing personal data on around 45,000 staff and retirees. In a statement on Monday the FAA announced that 48 files had been breached, two of which contained the personal data. The server affected wasn’t connected with air traffic control in any way.The personal data files covered employees on the FAA payroll in February 2006, the agency said.In a statement, the FAA said:“The FAA is moving quickly to prevent any similar incidents and has identified immediate steps as well as longer-term measures to further protect personal information.&rdquoRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 11 Feb 2009 07:00:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/pcw/reviews/159018 SSH is one of the most important tools to a system administrators. The network protocol gives sys admins remote access to... Thu, 05 Feb 2009 15:30:27 -0500 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/547635.html Thu, 29 Jan 2009 08:30:00 -0500 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/19079 In a somewhat unusual move, Kodak has taken the wraps of its new EasyShare C180 digital camera, an entry-level point-and-shoot system featuring a 10.2 megapixel resolution, a 2.4-inch LCD display, easy YouTube uploading, and a suggested price tag of just $119.95. The catch? The EasyShare C180 won't be available until August 2009…making the product's announcement something more akin to a prophecy in the fast-moving digital technology industry.The EasyShare C180 will boast a 3× optical zoom, face-detection technology, and blur reduction to minimize the effects of camera motioRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:30:00 -0500