Feb 07 - Apple Unveils Faster and More Affordable
Power Macs. Apple® today announced the fastest and most affordable
Power Mac® G4 line ever featuring a choice of a single 1 GHz,
dual 1.25 GHz or dual 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processors with prices ranging
from $1,499 (US) to $2,699 (US).
The new line also features FireWire® 800 and has internal support
for 54Mbps AirPort® Extreme and Bluetooth wireless networking.
Apple also unveiled its stunning new 20-inch Cinema Display®,
priced at just $1,299 (US), and announced significant price reductions
to its entire flat-panel display line.
“With
dual 1.25 GHz performance priced at only $1,999 plus our new 20-inch
Cinema Display priced at just $1,299, Apple is delivering unprecedented
value to our professional customers,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s
vice president of Hardware Product Marketing. “With Firewire
800 and support for AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth, the new Power Macs
are the ultimate systems for the digital professional.”
Based on Apple’s advanced Xserve™ architecture, including
up to 2MB of fast Double Data Rate (DDR) Level 3 cache and 333 MHz
DDR memory, the new Power Mac G4 line harnesses the power of Apple’s
UNIX-based Mac OS® X “Jaguar” with symmetric multiprocessing
capabilities to deliver an incredible 21 gigaflops (21 billion floating
point operations per second) of performance.
The Power Mac G4 provides incredible expansion capabilities with
five slots, including four open high-performance 64 bit 33 MHz PCI
slots and two external drive bays for optical drives. Apple’s
SuperDrive™ (DVD-R/CD-RW) optical drive for burning and playing
DVDs and CDs, standard on the top configuration, now lets customers
record DVDs, CD-R and CD-RW discs up to twice as fast as with previous
models.
The new faster Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive for watching DVDs
and burning CDs enables customers to record CD-R discs twice as fast
as previous models as well. Offering four 3.5-inch hard disk drive
expansion bays with either a 60GB, 80GB or 120GB Ultra ATA/100 hard
drive running at 7200 rpm, the Power Mac G4 now has a 180GB drive
option.
The new Power Mac G4 also adds a new high-speed FireWire 800 port,
the next generation high-speed serial interface, in addition to two
FireWire 400 ports and four USB 1.1 ports.
With a dedicated 4x AGP slot for graphics, the line offers the ATI
Radeon 9000 Pro or NVIDIA GeForce4 MX, both with 64MB DDR SDRAM graphics
memory and dual display support; optional graphics cards include the
NVIDIA GeForce4 Titanium and the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro, both with 128MB
of DDR SDRAM. With the industry’s first eight pixel pipelines,
the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro is the world’s leading graphics card.
The new Power Mac G4 line also offers the latest in communications
with support for high-speed 54Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11g wireless
networking, offering speeds up to five times faster than previous
wireless technologies, and optional built-in Bluetooth for wireless
connectivity to a range of peripherals such as cell phones and PDAs.
Apple’s new iSync software is included, so customers can automatically
synchronize address books and calendars between Macs and Bluetooth
capable cell phones. The line also offers 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet
built-in for the ultimate in Ethernet performance.
Every
Power Mac G4 includes Apple’s iLife™ applications, an integrated
suite of award-winning software including iTunes™ 3 for managing
digital music, iPhoto™ 2 for organizing and sharing digital photos,
iMovie™ 3 for digital movie-making, and iDVD™ 3 for creating
and burning Hollywood-style DVDs (SuperDrive models only).
Pricing & Availability
The single 1 GHz Power Mac G4, for a suggested retail price of $1,499
(US), and dual 1.25 GHz Power Mac G4, for a suggested retail price
of $1,999 (US), are available now. The dual 1.42 GHz Power Mac G4,
for a suggested retail price of $2,699 (US) will be available starting
next month. All Power Mac G4 systems are available through the Apple
Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple Retail
Stores and through Apple Authorized Resellers.
Feb 07 - Apple Unveils Spring
iMacs. CUPERTINO, California—February 4, 2003—Apple®
today announced its Spring line of iMac® computers, featuring
two new models.
The new 17-inch widescreen model features a 1 GHz PowerPC
G4 processor and 133 MHz system bus; 256MB of Double Data Rate (DDR)
memory; a faster 4x SuperDrive™ for playing and burning CDs and
DVDs; and internal support for AirPort® Extreme and Bluetooth,
for just $1,799 (US). The new 15-inch flat panel model features an
800 MHz G4 processor and is now priced at just $1,299 (US)—$200
less than its predecessor. Apple also announced lower pricing on its
line of eMac™ consumer and education computers.
“The
17-inch widescreen iMac is Apple’s top selling consumer desktop,
and we’ve just made it faster and more affordable,” said
Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Product Marketing.
“Apple’s new iLife applications are bundled with the new
iMacs, making them perfect for digital photography, music, moviemaking
and DVD creation.”
Designed around an ultra-compact base, the iMac’s flat panel
display appears to float in mid-air, allowing users to effortlessly
adjust its height or angle with just a touch. The 17-inch widescreen
and 15-inch flat panel iMacs also offer two FireWire® 400 and
five USB ports for fast, simple, plug-and-play connections to digital
devices such as digital cameras, DV camcorders and iPods.
The 17-inch widescreen iMac offers the latest in communications with
internal support for optional high-speed 54Mbps AirPort Extreme 802.11g
wireless networking, offering speeds up to five times faster than
previous wireless technologies, and optional internal Bluetooth for
wireless connectivity to a range of peripherals such as cell phones
and PDAs. Apple’s new iSync software is included, so customers
can automatically synchronize address books and calendars between
Macs and Bluetooth capable cell phones.
Created for education and consumers, the eMac features a 17-inch
flat CRT in a remarkably compact design. Starting at just $999 (US),
the eMac is Apple’s most affordable PowerPC G4 system, and the
$1,299 (US) model is Apple’s most affordable SuperDrive-equipped
computer.
Both flat panel iMac models include Mac OS X “Jaguar,”
Apple’s next-generation operating system and Apple’s iLife™
applications, an integrated suite offering iTunes™ 3 for managing
digital music, iPhoto™ 2 for organizing and sharing digital photos,
iMovie™ 3 for digital movie-making, and iDVD™ 3 for creating
and burning Hollywood-style DVDs (SuperDrive models only). Also included
is a collection of productivity and entertainment titles such as Quicken
2003 Deluxe, Microsoft Office v.X Test Drive and World Book 2003 Edition.
Pricing & Availability
iMac and eMac desktops are available immediately through the Apple
Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple’s
retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
Feb 07 - Broadband Could Cost AOL Billions,
Says Strategy Analytics. A new report, from technology research
and consulting firm Strategy Analytics, says that an exodus of top
executives, crushing debt, and the biggest annual loss in U.S. business
history are only the beginning of the problems facing America Online.
The report, titled, "Can AOL Bridge Its Broadband Gap?"
predicts that the world's leading Internet service provider faces
potentially huge revenue losses in the next few years as broadband
becomes the predominant form of Internet access in the U.S.
"Broadband subscribers account for only about a quarter of the
U.S. online audience today," notes James Penhune, a director
of the Strategy Analytics Global Broadband Practice. "But by
2005, we expect that half of all online homes will be using broadband
connections, most of them provided by cable and telephone companies.
AOL may be able to maintain a commanding share of the dial-up audience,
but the overall size of this market will have declined significantly."
Competition from broadband service providers isn't the only problem
for AOL. Even if it succeeds in upgrading its current customers to
broadband, the result will be hundreds of millions in lost subscription
revenue.
The company's new "Bring Your Own Access" plan lets consumers
who get broadband access from cable or telephone companies add a high-speed
version of AOL for an additional $14.95 a month. But since AOL's standard
fee for dial-up service is $23.90 a month, each time a customer trades
up to broadband it could cost the company nearly $9.00 in monthly
revenue. The report speculates that the combination of a shrinking
dial-up market and the diminished margins produced by broadband subscriptions
revenue could cost the company nearly a billion dollars by 2005.
AOL hopes to create new revenue by selling new premium services to
its dial-up and high-speed subscribers. But so far few specifics have
been revealed, despite the company's access to print, music and video
content owned by the AOL-Time Warner media empire.
"Broadband may be the future, AOL first needs to fix its core
dial-up business," Penhune suggests. "Management should
make the most of the service's huge base of subscribers by rebuilding
ad revenues and establishing more premium services. They may also
experiment with prices by adding less expensive options for new customers
while boosting rates for the flagship service."
For more information, see www.strategyanalytics.com.
Feb 07 - Security Biometrics, Inc. Provides
Heightened Security for Microsoft Windows Users. Security Biometrics,
Inc. (OTCBB:SBTI), a technology and acquisition company focused on
the rapidly developing field of biometrics, today announced the launch
of BIOSign(TM), a biometric signature authentication solution developed
to replace text-based password and PIN logon systems in Microsoft
Windows 2000 and XP Platforms.
Powered by Security Biometrics' PenFlow(TM) technology, BIOSign(TM)
is easily administered and provides greater security than password
and PIN-protected systems.
BIOSign(TM) is a highly accurate and secure personal authentication
solution. Only the user's unique biometric signature will allow logon
access. In addition to increasing security and reducing fraud, BIOSign(TM)
maximizes efficiency since users are not required to remember a password
or re-key incorrectly typed characters. It is also less invasive than
fingerprint identification and not vulnerable to the theft or fraud
activity experienced with digital signature identity solutions, PINS,
and passwords.
"IT managers have been asking for a product that is specifically
designed to offer a biometric signature authentication security solution
for Windows Active Directory," according to Robert Solomon, Chief
Technology Officer of Security Biometrics. "Additionally, companies
continue to focus efforts on preventing unauthorized access to networks
and files. BIOSign(TM) is the solution that directly meets all of
these needs."
Solomon added, "Organizations are discovering that traditional
password-based systems are frustrating for users and are costly to
administer. BIOSign(TM) provides a complete and scalable password
replacement solution that fully integrates with Active Directory."
Security Biometrics' - PenFlow(TM) technology can almost instantaneously
validate an individual's identity to near absolute certainty via biometric
signature analysis. Instead of visually examining the written signature
itself, PenFlow(TM) analyzes the way in which it is signed.
Pen forces, speeds, and directional vectors are compared against profile
data to validate a signature. PenFlow(TM) provides highly accurate
identity verification that is critical at airports and border crossings;
in financial transactions, such as credit card, ATM and e-commerce
purchases; and, as part of the BIOSign(TM) solution, in protected
computer access.
About Security Biometrics
Security Biometrics Inc. (OTC-BB:SBTI) www.sigbio.com
develops, markets and distributes biometric signature authentication
solutions powered by PenFlow(TM), a system based on proprietary patents
in which signatures are validated in a quick, non-invasive accurate
manner.
Feb 06 - Smallpox Research Grid Project
to Link More Than Two Million Computers. IBM, United Devices and
Accelrys today announced a project supporting a global research effort
that is focused on the development of new drugs that could potentially
combat the smallpox virus post infection.
The project will be powered through a massive computing "Grid"
that will enable millions of computer owners worldwide to contribute
idle computing resources with the goal of developing a wide collection
of potential anti-smallpox drugs.
Results from the Smallpox Research Grid Project will be delivered
to the United States Department of Defense's Office of the Secretary
of Defense.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there is currently no specific
treatment for smallpox post infection, and the only prevention is
vaccination; however, routine inoculation was discontinued following
the WHO effort to eradicate smallpox. The Smallpox Research Grid Project
will provide leading researchers at Oxford and Essex Universities
in the UK and smallpox experts at the Robarts Research Institute,
Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and The University of Western Ontario
with the computing horsepower needed to identify new anti-viral drugs.
The Smallpox Research Grid Project is based on technologies and services
from IBM, United Devices, Accerlys and Evotec OAI. These commercially
available technologies and services are currently used by many pharmaceutical
and biotechnology drug companies to improve and accelerate their drug
discovery and development processes. An emerging technology called
Grid computing allows researchers to pool computing resources such
as processing, network bandwidth and storage capacity for large research
projects.
The project employs computational chemistry to analyze chemical interactions
between a library of 35 million potential drug molecules and several
protein targets on the smallpox virus in the search for an effective
anti-viral drug to treat smallpox post-infection.
"IBM and the other project leaders encourage computer owners
worldwide to consider joining in and donating their spare processing
power for this worthwhile project to develop a new generation of drugs
to combat smallpox," said Tom Hawk, general manager, Grid computing
for IBM. "Grid computing is poised to launch a revolution in
businesses, with life sciences being one of the key areas that will
benefit through faster and more efficient drug modeling and development."
Individuals can participate in the Smallpox Research Grid Project
by downloading a screensaver at www.grid.org.
The screensaver will unobtrusively donate the computer's idle processing
power and link it into a worldwide Grid that will act as a virtual
supercomputer capable of analyzing billions of molecules in a fraction
of the time it would take in a laboratory.
Once processing is complete, the program will send results back to
United Devices' data center, powered by an IBM infrastructure, and
will request new data to analyze. The new data will then be analyzed
by the individual machine and the results returned the next time the
computer user connects to the Internet.
This project falls under the PatriotGrid category of research projects
at www.grid.org. PatriotGrid is the world's first public research
Grid dedicated specifically to counter bio-terrorism. Participants
who sign up at www.grid.org will be able
to take an active role in all research projects that fall into this
category.
"We've had great success using our massive Global MetaProcessor
Grid to target anthrax and cancer research," said United Devices
CEO Ed Hubbard. "Helping to identify inhibitors for these targets
that could lead to a cure for smallpox in this time frame is only
possible using leading applications, an existing infrastructure and
a proven grid solution. We're extremely proud to take part in this
effort."
Feb 06 - Applied DNA Sciences Introduces
DNA-tagged Anti-counterfeit Label Technology. Applied DNA Sciences,
Inc. (OTCBB:APDN), a provider of proprietary DNA-embedded biotechnology
solutions that protect corporate and intellectual property from counterfeiting
and fraud, today announced the introduction of the first DNA-tagged
label security system in the Northern American and European markets.
With applications for a wide range of consumer and industrial products,
DNA-tagged label technology promises to be an effective deterrent
to the ever-increasing number of sophisticated worldwide counterfeiters.
Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (ADNAS) is the exclusive Northern American
and European licensee and partner of Biowell Technology, Inc.
This patented biotechnology combines specially processed DNA with
anti-counterfeit ink, which can be applied to paper, cloth or plastic
labels, garment labels, printed onto logos or on any other surface.
Labels are printed with proprietary ink containing a unique authentication
DNA code for each manufacturer.
The labels can then be easily tested for manufacturers' authenticity
and traced to the authorized point of origin. In addition, these labels
can be instantly identified as containing DNA-tagged label technology
imprinting with a second level of a proprietary embedded DNA-instant
authentication feature. Virtually any item that can be duplicated
can be protected with the DNA label technology offering from ADNAS.
DNA anti-counterfeit ink can be applied to labels, and printed onto
logos or on any other surface which can then be easily and instantly
tested for authenticity. A simple real-time field test can instantly
authenticate the presence of the ADNAS's tag. Using a specifically
coded and proprietary activation solution stored in a handy one-use
swab, a simple wipe of the solution will induce a predetermined color
change in the DNA tagged ink used to print the label.
This proprietary biochemical reaction only occurs in the presence
of the DNA tag, and cannot be replicated in a fake label product.
For further verification, a piece of the label can also be sent to
the lab for complete forensic DNA sequence analysis. Other anti-counterfeit
features are also added to labels to provide multiple levels of protection,
including copy protected pantographs, tamper proof die-cuts, florescent
printing, and microprinting.
This cost-effective solution can be adapted to any company's current
branding, product tracking, or anti-counterfeiting program. The demand
for the proprietary, DNA ink-infused label technology transcends an
expansive range of industries, including but not limited to textile,
fashion, pharmaceuticals, art, memorabilia, supermarket, drug, and
mass merchandised products.
By using bio-engineered DNA as an invisible and highly specific identification
tag, forensic-level authentication of a tagged item verifies the manufacturer
and source of the product. DNA tagging has the ability to protect
brand name products from counterfeiters' tools of the trade, such
as precision computer scanning and printing equipment. DNA tagging
provides an extremely high counterfeit barrier, because a counterfeiter
can never replicate the unique DNA sequence that identifies a tagged
object.
"We are eager to introduce the first DNA biotechnology for counterfeit
protection into our markets. There is an overwhelming demand for instant
detection of counterfeit products, and our true DNA tagged security
technology is fool proof," said Larry Lee, chief executive officer
of Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. "Our partnership with Biowell could
enhance US economic security via state-of-the-art-biotechnology which
can authenticate products at point of purchase, certify manufacture
origin, and provide supply chain management solutions for tracing
goods and materials."
For mor einformation, visit www.ADNAS.com.
Feb 06 - Industry Leaders Launch Desktop
Linux Consortium. Responding to the overwhelming interest in Desktop
Linux, representatives from key firms and organizations today announced
the formation of the Desktop Linux Consortium, or DLC.
The vendor-neutral association is comprised of both commercial companies
and open source organizations that are developing and shaping GNU/Linux
desktop technologies.
Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux, said "We already have all
of the tools, in Open Source software, necessary for 80 percent of
office workers in the world: an office suite including spreadsheet,
word processor, and presentation program; a web browser, graphical
desktop with file manager, and tools for communications, scheduling,
and personal information management. The Linux desktop is inevitable!"
Companies and organizations supporting today's announcement include
ArkLinux, CodeWeavers, Debian.org, DesktopLinux.com, KDE, Linux Professional
Institute (LPI), Lycoris, The Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP),
MandrakeSoft, NeTraverse, OpenOffice.org, Questnet (Support4Linux.com),
Samba.org, theKompany, SuSE, TransGaming Technologies, TrustCommerce,
Xandros, and Ximian.
Bruce Perens, interim executive director and well known open source
community leader said, "The Desktop Linux Consortium will assure
that there is fairness in all Desktop Linux-related issues and events.
All vendors will be fully represented and the open source ethos will
be respected."
Targeting the needs of corporate, institutional, and home users,
the DLC will help shape the future of Linux on the desktop. Group
initiatives will include trade shows, conferences, and participation
in Consortium-sponsored public relations activities and programs.
"The initial intentions for the DLC are very clear," said
interim chairman Jeremy White. "Linux is firmly established in
the server space, and now desktop Linux is coming of age. The ultimate
beneficiary of the Consortium is the computing public, which will
be assured a vibrant, open, stable alternative to closed proprietary
systems, and an end to ever-escalating licensing fees."
The Desktop Linux Consortium will be incorporated as a non-profit
association. The DLC has established a formation committee, appointed
interim leadership, and adopted an aggressive timetable to institute
the group's governing body. Membership dues will be scaled to assure
broad participation by both commercial firms and open source organizations.
Additional details can be found at the DLC website www.desktoplinuxconsortium.org.
Feb 06 - Nokia Itroduces N-Gage Mobile
Game Deck. Nokia today showcased its new Nokia N-Gage(TM) game
deck at "Get Ready to N-Gage" events in London, UK and Sydney,
Australia.
The Nokia N-Gage game deck enables an enriched interactive gaming
experience by introducing an innovative wireless multiplayer platform
for both local and remote gaming. The Nokia N-Gage game deck allows
users to play the latest high quality titles in a new way, multiplayer
games connected locally via Bluetooth wireless technology, or over-the-air
games over mobile networks.
Enabling new business models, the Nokia N-Gage is a unique platform
that also provides opportunities for game developers and publishers,
network operators and other service providers to generate new revenue
streams and develop new games and service concepts.
"The Nokia N-Gage brings the start of a whole new gaming experience
to the market, with an ergonomic design optimized for playing games.
Nokia is working with world-renowned game publishers, including Activision,
Eidos, Sega, Taito and THQ, and developers to provide an appealing
and balanced catalogue of high quality games to the marketplace. Titles
will include both the latest blockbuster games and a variety of titles
across game genres," said Anssi Vanjoki, Executive Vice President,
Nokia Mobile Phones.
"The game experience can further be enhanced when network operators
and service providers enter the value chain by providing game related
mobile services such as downloadable game levels, additional features
and game characters or even running online multiplayer games and communities.
With these building blocks in place, the Nokia N-Gage platform will
help to unleash the creative and innovative spirit of the games industry."
The high performance games for Nokia N-Gage game deck are sold separately
on game cards (using the MultiMediaCard standard). Game card distribution
enables a new kind of mobile gameplay experience with richer graphics,
enhanced sound and more extensive game worlds in which to play. Nokia
will also act as a game publisher to create branded N-Gage game titles
and develop an evolving games portfolio.
Nokia N-Gage game deck devices and game titles will be available
in major retail outlets, game-specific and video game retail outlets,
as well as in regular mobile phone delivery channels in all major
markets.
Besides gaming, the Nokia N-Gage mobile game deck also features a
digital music player (MP3/AAC) and stereo FM radio, as well as a tri-band
GSM 900/1800/1900 mobile phone. The Nokia N-Gage game deck is planned
to be available in volume across five continents in the 4th quarter
2003 well in time for the holiday shopping season.
Nokia welcomes the games industry to publish and develop innovative
new concepts for the Nokia N-Gage game deck. Game developers interested
in learning more about the Nokia N-Gage game deck, including submitting
information about applications for the Nokia N-Gage and other Nokia
devices and platforms, can find more information at www.forum.nokia.com/games.
Feb 06 - Worldwide Broadband Modem Revenues
Fall 11 Percent in 2002. According to the latest research from
Strategy Analytics, revenues from sales of broadband modems and gateways
fell by 11 percent in 2002, as a result of a collapse in prices. The
report, "Residential Broadband Modems and Gateways: Global Market
Forecast," found that sales of broadband modems in 2002 actually
increased by 52 percent to 26.3 million units. It also predicts annual
sales of 60 million units a year by 2008, representing an average
growth rate of 15 percent.
In spite of this, the report recommends that device manufacturers
must continue to budget for negative revenue growth, since prices
will continue to fall. Industry revenues will decline on average by
5 percent a year until 2008. Attempts to introduce higher value gateway
devices with integrated wireless networking and other technologies
will meet with only limited success.
"The pressure on operators to reduce costs will continue to
outweigh the need for more advanced consumer devices," notes
Peter King, Director of the Strategy Analytics Global Broadband Practice.
"Intense competition between manufacturers to win contracts will
ensure that price erosion continues for the foreseeable future."
Strategy Analytics reports that DSL took an increased share of the
market in 2002. Sixty-two percent of the broadband modems sold in
2002 were DSL, up from 57 percent in 2001. Thirty-three percent were
cable, with fiber, fixed wireless and other technologies accounting
for the remainder. DSL will continue to dominate the market over the
next five years, although some growth in emerging platforms is expected.
For more information, see www.strategyanalytics.com.
Feb 05 - AMD Ships Athlon MP Processor
2600+ . AMD (NYSE: AMD) today introduced the AMD Athlon(TM) MP
processor 2600+, the newest in its line of multiprocessors for servers
and workstations that run mission-critical business applications.
The AMD Athlon MP processor 2600+ joins the AMD processor lineup as
the company's highest performance multiprocessor.
The AMD Athlon MP processor 2600+ builds on the tradition established
by previous AMD Athlon multiprocessors by emphasizing comprehensive
compatibility that can help lower a company's total cost of ownership.
AMD continues to work closely with leading software and hardware companies
to help ensure all AMD processors provide optimal performance, resulting
in efficient and highly productive computing for the end user.
"Enterprise-level computing requires enhanced compatibility
as well as leading-edge performance," said Marty Seyer, vice
president of server business segment, Computation Products Group,
AMD. "AMD took each of those needs into consideration with the
AMD Athlon MP processor line. We work in concert with our infrastructure
partners so that end users get a smooth platform integration and outstanding
productivity. The result is that a variety of Fortune 1000 companies
use systems with AMD Athlon MP processors to meet their business computing
needs."
JAK Films, the production company for the new Star Wars trilogy,
uses high-powered AMD Athlon MP processor-based workstations to create
fully animated digital storyboards that pre-visualize what a final
scene will look like when complete.
"AMD processor-based systems allowed us to develop an accurate
picture of what 'Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones' would
look like long before filming even started, and their speed and reliability
allowed us to focus on the creativity our job demands," said
Daniel Gregoire, Pre-Visualization Effects Supervisor for JAK Films.
"We rely on our AMD Athlon MP processor-based systems to run
the high-end software we need for the compute-intense work Star Wars
requires and we're excited about the future of AMD and the AMD Opteron(TM)
multiprocessor because it will allow us to take our work even further
than we did on Episode II."
ConocoPhillips, one of the world's leading gas and oil companies,
uses AMD Athlon MP processors as a part of their multi-teraflop computing
program for seismic imaging. "From our experience, AMD Athlon
MP processors provide good value with respect to performance and price,"
said Bill Menger, Manager, Geophysical Applications, of ConocoPhillips.
"We're looking forward to leveraging AMD's customer-focused approach
to design and development in future multiprocessing offerings."
Availability
Systems featuring the AMD Athlon MP processor 2600+ are expected
to be available immediately from 49 system builders worldwide. For
information on where to buy an AMD Athlon MP processor 2600+-based
system see www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_1278_809^3885,00.html.
Feb 05 - Fujitsu Unveils Multimedia
Notebook Featuring DVD-RW Drive for $1,399. Fujitsu PC Corporation
(FPC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702), today
released the next generation of the LifeBook(R) C Series notebook,
the company's popular, all-in-one multimedia desktop replacement.
The LifeBook C Series notebook is stylishly designed for students,
business professionals and aspiring movie directors with a starting
price point of $1,399 and features several multimedia enhancements,
including an optional DVD-RW drive.
Fujitsu is one of the first manufacturers to offer a notebook with
an integrated DVD-RW drive enabling users to write or rewrite on the
spacious 4.70GB DVD-R and DVD-RW media as well as traditional CD-Rs
and CD-RWs. Users can download home movies from their digital video
camera and burn them onto a DVD or they can burn music and data onto
a CD.
This new iteration of the LifeBook C Series notebook features the
latest Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 Processor - M running at 2.0 GHz.
In addition to the high-performance processor, the LifeBook C Series
notebook also includes the ATI(R) Mobility RADEON(TM) IGP340M graphics
chip with up to 64MB of selectable-shared UMA graphics memory.
This combination offers the ideal amount of resources to tackle video
editing, computer gaming and general business applications. A large
and bright 15-inch display adds to the experience, bringing multimedia
to vivid life whether the user is in the office developing presentations
or at home surfing the Web.
Increasing its multimedia functionality and versatility, the LifeBook
C Series notebook is uniquely equipped with a MemoryStick(TM) / SecureDigital
(SD) slot, four USB 2.0 ports and an IEEE 1394 port, enabling users
to connect a wide variety of portable devices and transfer photos,
music and home movies in record time. The notebook also includes an
S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface) optical port, which allows
users to connect the LifeBook C Series to a home theater system and
listen to MP3 files with high-fidelity sound quality.
No matter what environment users happen to be in, they can stay connected
with the LifeBook C Series notebook's built-in modem, Ethernet port
and optional wireless LAN (IEEE 802.11b). Four programmable one-touch
buttons get users up on the Web, checking email and opening other
applications quickly and easily. These same buttons can also be used
to control the CD player whether the notebook screen is up or down.
The system comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows XP Home, Windows
XP Professional or Windows 2000 Professional. It is available through
various retail and online outlets as well as direct at www.fujitsupc.com.
Feb 05 - Fujifilm Introduces the 256MB
xD-Picture Card for Digital Photographers. Fuji Photo Film Co.
U.S.A., Inc., a leader in innovative imaging and information products
and services, today introduces the 256MB xD-Picture Card(TM), a high-capacity
flash memory format for digital cameras. The new 256MB card began
shipping to consumer electronics, photography and other retailers
in January.
At a capacity of 256MB, and under optimum conditions, the xD-Picture
Card can store up to 444 digital images, captured at 3 megapixels
and recorded at normal resolution (average file size of 590KB).
Currently the smallest storage format of its kind on the market, the
xD-Picture Card is comparable in size to a penny, measuring just 0.79"
x 0.98" x 0.07" and weighing less than one-tenth of an ounce.
The xD-Picture Card, developed by Fujifilm and Olympus and announced
last July, is expected to meet the capacity demand for greater storage,
with an eventual storage limit of 8GB in a single card.
"The small size and high-capacity of the xD-Picture Card allows
manufacturers to develop smaller, lighter digital cameras to meet
consumer demand," said Frank Bulzomi, senior marketing manager,
Magnetic Markets Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. "Now,
digital photographers and other customers who are looking to supplement
images with digital video will have added flexibility with the availability
of the 256 MB xD-Picture card. Customers can store a greater quantity
of images, and at higher resolutions."
The xD-Picture Card also minimizes power consumption to save battery
life and provides fast read/write capabilities for smoother digital
camera operation. Capacities of 64MB and higher read at a rate of
5MB/sec and write at a speed of 3MB/sec. PCMCIA and CompactFlash adapters
are also currently available at local retailers or at www.fujifilmmall.com,
allowing the use of xD-Picture card in a variety of cameras and other
devices from multiple manufacturers.
For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can access the
Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilm.com.
Feb 05 - ``PictBridge'' Industry
Standard Adapted for Direct Printing From Digital Still Cameras.
The Camera & Imaging Products Association (CIPA) announced today
the establishment of PictBridge, an industry standard enabling a range
of digital photo solutions, including the direct printing of photos
from a digital still camera without the need to use a PC.
Originally proposed last December as "DPS" by Canon Inc.,
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., HP, Olympus Optical Co., Ltd., Seiko Epson
Corporation and Sony Corporation, the specification was then adopted
by CIPA for formal standardization (CIPA DC-001-2003).
Until now, each company had its own proprietary solution for direct
printing between digital still cameras and printers. This situation
has proven to be limiting to consumers, as they are unable to achieve
the same convenience and ease of use when using different product
combinations and brands.
The unified and open specification ensures compatibility across
PictBridge-enabled digital cameras and printers, affording consumers
the convenience of producing high-quality photos effortlessly using
the controls of their camera. Moreover, the formal announcement of
the specification as a CIPA standard is expected to further promote
the broad adoption of PictBridge throughout the digital imaging industry.
Details on how to obtain the specification, logo certification guidelines,
and other PictBridge-related information can be found online at www.cipa.jp/pictbridge.
Feb 05 - Panicware announces Pop-Up Stopper
Free v3.0. Panicware, Inc., a Seattle developer of PC pop-up control
technology, announces the newest update of Pop-Up Stopper Free v3.0.
This one-of-a-kind ad-blocking product is the first and only product
to stop the new Windows Messenger spam windows, as well as GAIN spyware
ads. In addition, all Panicware products are currently bundled with
a free spyware scanner to remove any new ads installed by ad serving
companies.
Panicware's patent-pending XA technology leads the way to a more
enjoyable surfing experience on the Internet by allowing users to
immediately update the current product whenever Panicware releases
new ad-blocking technology or new browser support. Live updates are
optional and allow users to download updates without visiting a web
site or installing any new software.
The newest update includes advanced ad-blocking for Internet Explorer
and Netscape, as well as new support for the Mozilla browser. Pop-Up
Stopper also includes many new visual and audio notifications to notify
users when a pop-up window has been blocked.
"Our new XA technology works like a virus scanner for ads, providing
continued live updates to protect users from Internet threats, which
are often presented in pop-up ad windows that try to trick consumers
into clicking," said Matina Fresenius, CEO of Panicware.
Pop-Up Stopper is free for personal use, and is available for immediate
download from www.panicware.com. Panicware
is proud to be the only ad-blocking software to block AOL and MSN
ads -- a feature just added to the new Professional version of Pop-Up
Stopper, also available from Panicware. Pop-Up Stopper Free is supported
by Windows 98, ME, 2000 and XP. Panicware continues to provide free
24-hour tech support via email.
Feb 04 - Sharp Adds Two
New Monitors to Its LCD Line-Up. Sharp Systems of America, a division
of Sharp Electronics Corporation, today announced two new additions
to its LCD monitor line-up: the LL-T17D3 and the LL-T18A1.
The full-featured LCD monitors, 17 inches and 18.1 inches,
respectively, deliver professional performance at budget prices, providing
a great opportunity for businesses to economically provide their workforce
with high-quality displays that respond to a wide range of needs.
"Sharp is pleased to be able to produce professional-quality
monitors at lower costs," explained Greg Nakagawa, senior vice
president and general manager of Sharp Systems of America. "These
two new LCD monitors are great examples of Sharp's leadership in the
pricing arena. Corporations and professionals alike can take advantage
of Sharp's price leadership knowing that they are getting the most
in quality and value for their dollar."
LL-T17D3
Equipped with stereo speakers, and compatible with both analog and
digital video inputs, the LL-T17D3 is a high-resolution 17-inch SXGA
(1280 x 1024) monitor that responds to a wide range of needs. With
its 250-nit brightness and incredible 500:1 contrast ratio, the price
performance of this monitor is exceptional. The LL-T17D3 LCD monitor
also features a 17ms response rate, making it perfect for video games
and other video applications.
The LL-T17D3 is available in white or black and features a long life
(approximately 50,000 hours) backlight, making the unit an excellent
investment for the long term. Available immediately, the LL-T17D3
has an estimated street price of $499.
LL-T18A1
Economical price and professional performance distinguish the Sharp
LL-T18A1. This dual-input LCD monitor (both analog and digital) is
equipped with a high-performance TFT LCD that achieves a wide viewing
angle of 160-degrees, both horizontally and vertically. A high contrast
ratio of 350:1 and a high brightness of 250 nits make the LL-T18A1
monitor ideal for professional applications such as CAD and desktop
publishing.
Available in black or white, and compatible with VESA-standard free
mount for wall or arm mounting, the Sharp LL-T18A1 is available for
an estimated street price of $699.
Sharp monitors are available through Sharp Systems of America's network
of resellers or direct from Sharp at www.sharpplace.com.
Feb 04 - Canon Announces Two-Picoliter
Six-Color Photo Printer. The Canon i950 Photo Printer is the successor
to the award winning Canon S900 Photo Printer and is aimed at the
digital photographer who wants fast, high-quality printing capabilities
at home or work. With the new i950 Photo Printer, Canon introduces
even higher print resolution and smaller ink droplet size, setting
new standards for professional photo printing.
The i950 doubles the maximum print resolution to 4800 x 1200 dpi
from the S900's maximum resolution of 2400 x 1200 dpi. Additionally,
the ink droplet size of each of the 3,072 nozzles is now twice as
small at a mere two-picoliters in volume. The use of two picoliter
ink droplets in all modes allows for better photo printing in the
mid-range tones with ink drops that are virtually undetectable by
the naked eye. The i950 Photo Printer has an MSRP of $249.99 and is
available immediately.
"With the i950, Canon again is demonstrating a relentless commitment
to providing the finest photo printers available to consumers,"
said Ryoichi Bamba, senior vice president and general manager of Canon
U.S.A.'s Personal Imaging Systems Group. "As the successor to
the award-winning S900, the i950 raises the standard even further
for fast, super high-quality photo printing that today's advanced
digital photographers demand."
The Canon i950 Photo Printer features fast photo printing speeds
of approximately 37 seconds for a 4" x 6" borderless photograph
and approximately 1 minute for an 8" x 10" photo. The i950
supports borderless photo printing in both 4" x 6" and letter
sizes as well as new support for 5" x 7" borderless printing
all without the need to trim the borders or tear off perforations.
Other features include Exif Print for smart photo processing, individual
ink tanks for efficiency and Canon's advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology(TM).
Canon will introduce Canon branded Photo Paper Plus Glossy 5"
x 7" paper along with the printer.
For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
Feb 04 - Kano Technologies Launches
Retail DVD+RW/R USB 2.0 Packages. Kano Technologies (www.kanotechnologies.com),
a new DVD+RW/R storage solutions company, introduced its first retail
products today.
The K2XTREME DVD+RW/R 2.4x internal and external drive packages tout
"on-the-fly" video recording, enabling easy conversion of
personal videos into DVDs -- in the shortest possible recording time.
The K2XTREME DVD+VR support allows the user to edit parts of a recorded
DVD+RW disk without re-recording the complete disk, while maintaining
the renowned DVD+RW playback compatibility. Also featured is Roxio's
new Easy CD Creator 5.3 DVD Edition with its popular easy-to-use interface.
Additionally, award-winning NTI Backup NOW! Combo software provides
complete desktop backup and restore.
Richard Young, president of Kano, stated, "The combination of
the full feature versions of Roxio, NTI and the WIN DVD video playback
software included in our retail packages is an $80 value. We believe
we have provided the most easy-to-use and robust software package
available for DVD+ users -- and at the best value."
Young added, "What is great about this version of Roxio is the
addition of a DVD button to the popular Easy CD Creator interface,
so users have a single common interface for selecting CD or DVD recording.
Users will find the NTI Backup Now! Combo extremely easy to use and
feature-rich, with a wide array of backup choices to meet virtually
every user's needs. In fact, it's the only software that provides
full-image backup and specific-file backup to CD or DVD."
Young also noted that the 4.7 GB storage capacity of DVD+RW/R media
provides a very cost-effective backup solution. Worldwide support
of the DVD+RW/R format ensures that archived data will be accessible
for generations to come.
The K2XTREME's internal drive package comes complete with ATAPI cable,
audio cable, drive mount screws, DVD+R and DVD+RW media, and an instruction
manual. Suggested retail price is $399.99.
The external drive comes in an attractive, fan-cooled enclosure with
a built-in universal power supply and standard AC power cord. The
package also includes the media and manual and is available in USB
2.0 or FireWire 1394 interface versions. Suggested retail price is
$499.99.
All packages are available now from D&H Distributing (www.dandh.com).
Feb 04 - Canon Announces Desktop Performance
in New i70 Portable Printer. Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary
of Canon Inc. (NYSE: CAJ) today announces the i70 Color Bubble Jet
Printer, the next generation portable printer with desktop performance.
The i70, which replaces the award-winning and class-leading BJC-85,
will benefit from the latest Canon Bubble Jet technology such as fast
printing speeds, up to 4800 x 1200 color dpi, Bubble Jet Direct printing
from select Canon digital cameras and digital video camcorders, true
borderless printing and advanced MicroFine Droplet Technology(TM).
The i70 will have an MSRP of $299.99 and will be shipping in February
2003.
"With the introduction of the new i70, Canon builds on a very
successful history of leadership in portable Bubble Jet printing solutions,"
said Ryoichi Bamba, senior vice president and general manager of Canon
U.S.A.'s Personal Imaging Systems Group. "The i70 combines the
printing power of a desktop with the convenience of portability, and
its high-tech, stylish design will appeal to a very broad market of
users with diverse needs."
Major features on the i70 fall into three categories - Quality, Speed,
and Bubble Jet Direct printing. Quality is delivered by using a maximum
4800 x 1200 dpi color resolution with Canon's advanced MicroFine Droplet
Technology and a five-picoliter ink droplet. Advanced MicroFine Droplet
Technology is an ink ejection process that separates and ejects prescribed-volume
ultra-fine ink droplets from the nozzles with precise accuracy. Five-picoliter
drop size provides excellent photo quality.
Printing speeds will rival many desktop printers at 13 pages per
minute (ppm) in black and 9 ppm in color. This is a dramatic increase
from 5 ppm black and 2 ppm color on the BJC-85 and makes the i70 the
fastest portable printer available today. Canon achieved the jump
in speed by using the current award-winning S330 Color Bubble Jet
printer and miniaturizing the engine and printhead to fit into a portable
package. In addition to the fast text speed, the i70 will print borderless
4" x 6" photos in approximately 88 seconds.
For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
Feb 04 - Global Chip Sales
Up 1.3% in 2002. Global semiconductor sales reached $12.5 billion
in December 2002, bringing total revenue for the year to $140.7 billion,
a 1.3% increase from the 2001 level of $138.9 billion. During the
year's final quarter, revenue rose 1.9% sequentially to $37.6 billion
from $36.9 billion, following increases of 5.6%, 5.8% and 8.2% in
the first three quarters of 2002, and was up 23% over the corresponding
quarter of 2001.
"The recovery that began in the final quarter of 2001 continued
throughout 2002, producing 1.3% growth in this turnaround year,"
stated SIA President George Scalise. "This is remarkable performance,
in the face of lackluster demand in the Information Technology market.
We expect further improvement across broad product sectors, positioning
the industry for 19.8% growth in 2003, increasing revenues to $169.3
billion."
Throughout the year, the worldwide wireless sector recorded the most
vigorous growth. Unit sales of handsets grew by double-digits in the
fourth quarter, producing growth of 13.2% in Flash and 6.8% in Digital
Signal Processors. New subscribers continue to set records in Asia,
particularly in China, which is adding some 5 million new users each
month.
PCs continue to be the single largest end market for semiconductors,
accounting for 30% of total chip consumption. There is some evidence
that the corporate buyer is returning to the market. During the December
quarter due to increased PC demand, Microprocessors and DRAMs were
up 10.1% and 7.6% respectively.
"We expect the momentum built throughout 2002 in both cell phones
and PCs to increase in 2003," stated Scalise. "As a result,
for the first time since 2000, we believe IT spending on hardware
will register an increase."
The consumer sector, including DVD's and digital cameras, continues
to drive new growth, especially in Application Specific Products.
WiFi (802.11) has emerged as another brisk growth driver for semiconductors,
as Wireless Local Access Networks (WLAN) sweep across the country,
giving consumers the ability to connect almost seamlessly to the Internet
from their offices, at home, in coffee houses, or in transit at the
nation's airports. The compound annual growth rates of WLAN IC's expected
to exceed 35% over the 2000-2005 forecast period.
Asia Pacific continues to be the world's fastest growing market,
recording a 29% increase in chip sales for the year, pushing it past
the Americas as the world's largest market, with a 36% share. For
the year 2002, chip sales declined 13% in the Americas, 8% in Japan
and 8% in Europe from 2001 levels, as electronic equipment production
continues an unprecedented migration to facilities in the Asia Pacific
region.
More information about the SIA can be found at www.sia-online.org.
Feb 03 - AMD Announces April
Launch Date For Opteron Processor. AMD (NYSE:AMD) today announced
that the worldwide introduction of its next-generation, 64-bit AMD
Opteron(TM) processor for servers and workstations will take place
on April 22 in New York City. AMD plans to follow up with the introduction
of the AMD Athlon(TM) 64 processor for the desktop and mobile markets
in September 2003.
AMD also announced today that it will introduce the AMD Athlon XP
processor 3000+ on February 10 and the AMD Athlon XP processor 3200+
in mid-2003. These processors, based on the core code-named "Barton,"
feature additional integrated cache memory for industry-leading performance.
"With the enhanced features of the AMD Athlon XP processor,
AMD will extend its leadership position in high-performance PC processor
solutions," said Rob Herb, executive vice president, chief sales
and marketing officer for AMD.
AMD expects that the AMD Opteron processor will be the highest-performing
server and workstation processor in its class, will expand our competitive
position in these markets, and will help establish AMD's leadership
role in 64-bit computing for the enterprise.
"AMD believes the future of computing, from high-end servers
to mainstream desktop and notebook PCs, will be based on pervasive
64-bit computing. We expect to work with our customers and partners
to bring the benefits of 64-bit computing to end users worldwide,"
Herb said.
For more AMD news and product information, visit
www.amd.com.
Feb 03 - JVC Introduces World's First Consumer
High Definition Camcorder. JVC Company of America has solidified
its position as the leading U.S. supplier of high-definition consumer
electronics by announcing the introduction of its Digital Hi-Def Camcorder,
GR-HD1, the world's first consumer high-definition camcorder.
With this introduction, JVC is now the only manufacturer to supply
the U.S. market with a way to shoot and edit real ATSC standard HD
content (Digital Hi-Def Camcorder GR-HD1 and MPEG Edit Studio(R) Pro
LE), record and save that HD content (D-VHS with D-Theater(TM) HM-DH30000),
and view the content on a variety of HD digital televisions, including
CRT, rear projection, front projection and plasma models.
"For the consumer who demands HD quality in their home entertainment,
JVC is the only complete solution," said Jerry Barbera, Vice
President Consumer Video Division, JVC Company of America.
"Finally, professional and amateur videographers have a high-definition
camcorder choice," said Rob Payesko, Merchandising Manager Consumer
Video Division. "Previously, only broadcasters had that option.
Now, because of our advances in progressive scan technology we are
able to deliver a consumer HD solution. A first look at this product
and our complete HD solution will be at the PMA Show in Las Vegas,
booth L92, March 2-5. There we will have several working samples and
some compelling demonstrations."
The Digital Hi-Def Camcorder GR-HD1 records in both NTSC and U.S.
ATSC HDTV Standard video on a standard Mini DV cassette. Recording
can be done in 4:3 480i (DV compression) as well as 16:9 480/60p and
16:9 720/30p (MPEG-2 compression). In analog component it plays back
in 480i (NTSC) and 480/60p, 720/60p, 1080i (ATSC), making it compatible
with virtually all display devices. Its digital i.Link outputs 480i
(NTSC) and 480/60p, 720/30p (ATSC) to D-VHS or computers via the ubiquitous
FireWire(R) connection.
Availability: May MSRP: $3499.95. For further product information,
visit JVC's Web site at www.jvc.com.
Feb 03 - Home Networks in Demand by Broadband
Users. Almost one-third of all U.S. broadband households are interested
in purchasing a home networking product this year, according to Parks
Associates' Broadband Access @ Home III, a survey of 10,500 U.S. Internet
households. This trend reflects a growing appreciation among U.S.
consumers for the value of a home network.
"There is little doubt that demand for home networking is finally
ramping up," said Michael Greeson, senior analyst and director
of broadband research for Parks Associates. "At least three million
U.S. Internet households will purchase data-centric home networks
in 2003, thanks in large part to the aggressive marketing efforts
of service providers and retailers alike, as well as strong consumer
interest in networking content."
Sharing an Internet connection continues to be the most significant
driver for home networking. Two-thirds of Internet households with
a home network state that sharing an Internet connection among multiple
home PCs was the top reason for network adoption.
Parks Associates can be found online at www.parksassociates.com.
Feb 02 - Sunday Shopping
Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best
Sunday Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. Computer prices were
lower this week. All retailers were advertising this week and there
were many more systems to choose from.
This Sunday's Special Discounts and Financing.
In addition to sales on specific items, the following store-wide sales
are advertised this week. (Note that these
ads are for the Dayton, Ohio area. Prices or offerings may be different
where you live.)
Best Buy has 12 month no-interest financing on all desktop packages.
In addition they are giving mail-in rebates of $100 on all desktop
packages.
Circuit City is offering
$100 instant savings on all Intel processor desktop packages and Toshiba
laptop purchases. They also have 12 months no-interest financing on
all Intel processor desktop packages, and on all laptops.
Office
Depot
has 6 months no payment, no interest financing for new computer purchases
over $298.
CompUSA has 12 months no-interest
financing on all laptops $799 and higher. They are also giving 3 free
months of AOL with all computer purchases.
Staples has no store -wide sales this
Sunday.
Compare
to Online Prices - Compare the Sunday ad prices to
those being offered at DealTime, it searches over 160 online computer
stores.
InfoHQ Related Shopping Pages
Shopping Alerts
- Our latest shopping advisories on buying digital cameras and camcorders,
desktop computers, and laptops.
Windows XP
Upgrade Guide - All about upgrading to Windows XP.
What You Need to Know
About Dial-up Internet Service Rebates - The pros and cons of
'free' Internet service deals.
Definitions. A complete desktop system/package/complete
package is defined as a computer with monitor and printer
or scanner.
A build-to-order system is customized at the retailer
and then ordered from a computer manufacturer. In addition to the
computer's stated price, you still pay sales tax and shipping charges
(if you order direct from the vendor without going through the chain
store, you may not have to pay sales tax and you could get a better
warranty).
Caution about advertised prices.
When reading advertisements, read the fine print of the ad to make
sure you know what is being advertised and what it cost. For example,
many advertisers will show a complete system with computer, monitor,
and printer but advertise a price for the computer only.
* Prices discussed in this article. We report
prices after rebates and discounts are subtracted.
Items highlighted in Black are good deals.
Items highlighted in Red means prices have
gone up and the system is not a good buy this week.
Items in normal text means prices are about the same as the previous
weeks.
|
Best Sunday Ad Deals
|
|
Category
|
Product Description
|
Price* (see above)
|
Prices up or Down this Week
|
Store
|
|
Best Celeron Deal
|
HP 2.0 GHz complete system
|
$599
|
-$180
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best High-end Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.4 GHz complete system with DVD-RW
and Video Recording Software
|
$1499
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 1800+ complete
system
|
$529
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 2000+ complete
system
|
$619
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best Low-cost Athlon XP System
|
Compaq 2200+ complete
system
|
$799
|
-
|
Circuit City, CompUSA
|
|
1. Best High-end Athlon XP System
|
HP 2400+ complete system
|
$979
|
+$80
|
Circuit City, CompUSA
|
|
2. Best High-end Athlon XP System
|
HP 2600+ complete system
|
$1149
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Notebook
|
Compaq 1.6 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$799
|
-$100
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Notebook
|
Toshiba 1.8 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$899
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
3. Best Low-cost Notebook
|
Compaq Athlon XP 1800+ with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1049
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
HP 2.0 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1349
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
HP 2.4 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1599
|
+$100
|
CompUSA
|
|
3. Best High-end Notebook
|
Compaq 2.8 GHz Pentium 4-M with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1749
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
|
|
Peripherals
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Asylum GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128 MB
|
$149
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 60 GB Hard Drive
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 7200 RPM 120 GB Hard Drive
|
$129
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 200 GB Hard
Drive
|
$200
(after rebates with online ad)
|
-$40
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
ATI Radeon 9000 Pro
|
$129
(after rebates)
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Memorex 52X CD-RW
|
$49
(after rebates)
|
-$10
|
Best Buy
|
|
|
Additional Information. For additional technical
information, advice on how to buy a laptop or desktop, and vendor
and manufacturer links, please see our Computer
Buying Advice page.
About Sunday Shopping Watch. Sunday Shopping
Watch appears every Sunday (except some holidays like Easter and Christmas)
in our News and Rumors column. It is a review of local (Dayton, Ohio)
computer chain store advertisements. While we can not guarantee your
local chain store has the same items, this article can help you make
informed buying decisions.
