Jul 31 - New Notebooks in Dell's Smallest Package
Make Mobility Light and Easy. For people looking to do more and
carry less, Dell (Nasdaq:DELL) today offers its newest sub-three pound
ultra-slim notebook computers: the Latitude(tm) X300 and Inspiron(tm)
300m.
Whether traveling across country or a college campus, these systems
come with the Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor and have enough performance
to handle home- and business-productivity applications like e-mail,
Web browsing and presentations. With an optional MediaBase that connects
to the bottom of the notebook and includes a D-Family media module,
like a DVD+RW burner drive or a second hard drive, these ultra-light
notebooks can offer many of the capabilities of a desktop replacement
notebook and still weigh less than 5 pounds.
The MediaBase also contains a spare battery charger bay, which can
either charge a second battery when connected to AC power or help
power the system when operating under low battery power. Based on
direct customer feedback, the MediaBase also is equipped with front
control buttons for volume control, power switching and undocking.
Each X300 or 300m is shipped with an external modular bay (D/Bay)
that connects optical and storage devices to the notebook via a powered
USB 2.0 port. Two integrated USB 2.0 ports and one IEEE 1394 interface
help with the transfer of large data files, digital images and digital
video. Users also may choose to store data, photo albums or music
libraries on secure digital cards via the built-in secure digital
media slot. Both systems can be ordered with optional Bluetooth capability
($49) and an extended battery ($199).
About the Latitude X300
At 2.9 pounds and 0.8 inches thin, the Ion Silver Latitude X300 notebook
computer is the thinnest and lightest of all Dell Latitudes. It is
built for the rigors of the road, and provides the durability, usability
and flexibility demanded by business travelers. Also, based on customer
feedback, the X300 is compatible with the new D-Family media modules
via the D/Bay or optional MediaBase.
For $1,599, the Latitude X300 comes with Intel's Centrino(tm) Mobile
Technology, featuring a new Low Volt Pentium M processor at 1.2GHz
and a PRO/Wireless 2100 (802.11b) solution, a 20GB hard drive, 128MB
shared DDR system memory, 24X CD-ROM drive (with external D/Bay),
Windows(R) XP Home and three-year limited warranty with next-business-day
onsite service.
More information about the Latitude X300 and other members of the
D-Family can be found at www.dell.com/latitude.
About the Inspiron 300m
The ultra-slim Inspiron 300m notebook computer comes in a Venice
Blue design with Moonlight Silver accents. It is designed to meet
the needs of small businesses, students and consumers who demand affordable
ultra-portable computing and connectivity.
For $1,599, the Inspiron 300m comes with Intel's Centrino Mobile
Technology, equipped with a new Low Volt Pentium M processor at 1.2GHz
and a PRO/Wireless 2100 (802.11b) solution, a 30GB hard drive, 256MB
shared DDR system memory, DVD/CDRW combination drive, Windows XP Home,
WordPerfect Productivity pack, Dell Juke Box, Picture Studio and Security
Center and one-year limited warranty with mail-in service. Customers
interested in ordering a 300m should reference E-Value code 1234-D80815Y
when calling Dell or visiting the Web site.
More information on Inspiron notebooks is available at www.dell.com/inspiron.
Jul 31 - Canon's New Mini DV Camcorders
Shoot Two-Megapixel Photos. Whether taping the kids' play-off
game or snapping photo album pictures of the adventure vacation, Canon's
two new dual-function camcorders - the Optura 300 and the Optura Xi
- capture vibrant video and brilliant two megapixel memories which
can then be directly printed on any PictBridge-enabled photo printer*.
"Our camcorders have evolved into photo-friendly devices that
allow consumers to truly capture, print and share their memories,"
said Yukiaki Hashimoto, senior vice president and general manager
of the Consumer Imaging Group at Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary
of Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ). "These two new camcorders provide excellent
value and versatility that we believe will arouse greater customer
satisfaction and more frequent use."
These Canon DV camcorders are the first in the marketplace to incorporate
PictBridge, the new industry standard in direct photo printing that
enables consumers to connect their digital camera or camcorder directly
to a PictBridge-enabled printer, making it easy to print pictures
at home, the office or while traveling. Simply connect any PictBridge
enabled digital camera or camcorder via USB cable to any PictBridge
enabled printer.
Photo fans and movie mavens no longer need to choose between their
digital video and digital still cameras. With the new Canon Optura
300 and Optura Xi mini DV Camcorders, the best features of both technologies
are at users' fingertips, including an extraordinary 10x or 11x optical
zoom and a 200x and 220x digital zoom, respectively. Both camcorders
also feature the Genuine Canon Optics that should make Canon lenses
the "glass" of choice for professional photographers, videographers
and filmmakers the world over. The camcorders' feature a robust 1/3.4
inch 2.0 megapixel CCD, which combines a crisp lens and image stabilization
to create and capture outstanding quality digital video and digital
photos.
Video Virtuosity
Both the Optura 300 and Optura Xi camcorders offer an array of video
features including high-resolution, Mini-DV format and a choice of
either 4:3 aspect ratio or an advanced 16:9 widescreen mode for those
who wish to emulate movie theatre screen proportions in their own
epic adventures.
The camcorders also incorporate an RGB Primary Color Filter similar
to those found on professional models. The RGB filter actually separates
the light passing through the lens into its individual red, green
and blue color components in order to provide more accurate color
reproduction. For filming in low light situations, Canon's Color Night
Mode and Super Color Night Mode save the day and the scene.
Both units feature 16 and 12 bit PCM digital sound, manual audio level
control, a virtual tool box of digital effects, USB terminal for high
speed transfer of images to a computer and IEEE 1394 port that enables
connections to a computer or another Canon DV camcorder.
The Optura 300 and the Optura Xi camcorders also come bundled with
DV Messenger 2 software for internet video chat and videoconferencing
sessions; simultaneous VGA quality photo recording (640 x480 pixels)
while recording video.
Fantastic Photos
Among the still photography features of the Optura 300 and Optura
Xi camcorders are built-in and pop-up flash (respectively); auto exposure
bracketing and selectable focusing points, which allow users to choose
from one of three focusing points to automatically place the desired
subject in focus; continuous shooting mode which enables users to
capture up to 30 images at three frames per second in VGA mode; and
simultaneous shooting mode, which allows users to capture e-mail ready
photos while shooting video.
Both models use two varieties of media, Mini DV tape for recording
video and SD memory cards for storing still images and short MPEG-4
movie clips.
The Optura 300 and Optura Xi camcorders also benefit from Canon's
proprietary DIGIC DV processor technology that optimizes results when
shooting video or photos. DIGIC DV technology provides dual image
signal processing capabilities, which can differentiate between the
video and digital still formats and makes it possible to achieve accurate
color for both video and digital photos. DIGIC DV technology utilizes
two different color processing techniques to optimize the image quality
of video for playback on TV or computer monitor and photos for TV
viewing or printing.
The Canon Optura Xi camcorder will be available in August and the
Optura 300 camcorder will be available in September for an estimated
selling price of $1499 and $1299, respectively.
For more information, visit www.usa.canon.com.
(*) For a list of PictBridge enabled digital camcorders visit www.cipa.jp/pictbridge/.
Jul 31 - Hynix Announces World's First
Introduction of DDR500. Hynix Semiconductor Inc., announced today
it has developed a 500MHz 256Mbit DDR SDRAM and will begin its full-scale
volume production in August 2003.
The newly introduced DDR500, a high-performance PC main memory device,
runs at 500MHz and will be available in FBGA, TSOP or QFP package.
The DDR500 product line up is aimed towards the gaming market enthusiasts
who tend to require higher frequencies and system performance.
The main memory DDR500 follows the introduction a 500MHz graphic
memory last year and will be manufactured using the company's Prime
Chip 0.13-micron process technology.
Currently, the main memory DRAM market is experiencing a rapid transition
in demand from DDR266 to DDR333/400. Hynix expects the DDR500 to demand
a 10-20% premium relative to DDR400 due to limited supply.
Hynix aims to continue to maintain and expand its leadership position
in the high-performance PC, workstation and computer game consol markets,
requiring ultra high-speed memory products. Hynix is dedicated to
maintaining its competitive edge in the high-speed memory market through
continuous development of ultra high-speed devices. For more information,
visit www.hynix.com.
Jul 31 - Samsung's NAND Flash Memory Supports
New HP iPAQ Pocket PC Models. Samsung, the world leader in advanced
semiconductor memory technology, today announced that the HP iPAQ
Pocket PC h1900 and h2200 series product equipped with the Microsoft
Windows Mobile 2003 software for Pocket PC will use Samsung's NAND
flash memory, enhancing memory capabilities to deliver a richer user
experience.
"Samsung's strategy is to deliver more value to the digitally
connected world, and NAND flash memory used in HP's iPAQ pocket PCs
is just another example of Samsung delivering on its commitment,"
said Ivan Greenberg, Director of Strategic Marketing at Samsung Semiconductor,
Inc., San Jose, Calif. "NAND flash memory's ability to enable
faster application updates, fluid scalability in storage capacity
and significant reduction of system bill-of-materials, will usher
in a new class of multimedia-rich handheld PDA's."
The memory subsystem uses NAND Flash for nonvolatile storage of operating
system code, application code, and application data. Pocket PC 2003
optimizations, developed by Microsoft and Samsung, allow the iPAQ
Pocket PC to boot from NAND Flash.
The per-bit-cost of NAND flash memory is significantly lower than
NOR flash devices and NAND write speeds are as much as 20 times faster
than NOR while consuming only five percent of the power required by
NOR. Fast write times streamline updates of user application data
and enables real-time video recording applications.
In addition, NAND flash memory supports the increasing data storage
requirements of future mobile applications. Samsung's time-to-market
availability of higher memory densities of up to 2 Gigabit components
satisfy the market's demand for a growing number of wireless LAN hot
spots that enable anytime, anywhere internet access. NAND's capabilities
will also play an important role in handling large multi-media contents
and mega-pixel camera features at VGA resolution (640 x 480) that
are integrated into advanced mobile applications. The system enhancements
made possible by Samsung's NAND Flash enable PDA platforms to deliver
more value to the end user.
For more information, visit www.samsungsemi.com.
Jul 31 - Salaries Rise for Microsoft
Certified Professionals. For the first time in three years, Microsoft(R)
Certified Professional Magazine(TM) reports a rise in salaries for
certified IT professionals. Up nearly 11 percent, network professionals
with the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows 2000
credential reported an annual salary of $59,400 compared to 2002's
average salary of $53,700. The average salary across all certifications
is $61,700.
The study, conducted by Wilson Research Group, found an increase
in salaries across nearly all Microsoft certification titles compared
with last year. Developers top the salary chart with the Microsoft
Certified Solution Developers (MCSD) on Visual Studio .NET bringing
in $82,300.
The two most valued skills an IT professional can have according
to this year's results are data warehousing and software design, with
average salaries of $71,800 and $71,700, respectively.
"What struck me this year is the interest level among IT professionals
in pursuing certification on Microsoft's newer technologies,"
said Dian Schaffhauser, Editorial Director and co-author of the report.
"Whereas the training and certification market has been in the
doldrums for the last several years, there's a heightened interest
in pursing credentials on Windows Server 2003 and Visual Studio .NET,"
Schaffhauser said. Seventy eight percent of respondents anticipate
pursuing some form of credential on Windows Server 2003 during the
next 12 months.
"At the same time people have lowered expectations," she
said. "The average raise people expect this year is 12 percent;
last year it was 15 percent."
Also, she added, whereas last year 25 percent of respondents said
they expected to change jobs within the year, in 2003 that number
had dropped to 21 percent.
Women are making great strides in closing the gender/income gap.
This year female respondents average $59,400 a year in salary while
males earn $62,000 -- a difference of $2,600. The difference was $4,200
in 2001 and a staggering $10,000 in 2000.
While most salaries are up, so is the number of unemployed professionals.
About 10 percent of respondents were laid off in the last 12 months,
which is slightly higher than last year. On a bright note, one third
of working respondents report their companies plan to hire additional
IT staff in the next 12 months. The average number of openings is
nine.
The report is available online at: www.mcpmag.com/salary2003.
Jul 30 - AVERATEC Launches Intel Centrino
Based 5100 Notebook Series. AVERATEC, Inc., an emerging leader
in innovative computing products, today announced a new and highly
affordable addition to its family of thin and light notebooks that
offers powerful multi-media, desktop-like performance in a mobile
form-factor. Powered by the new Intel Centrino mobile technology with
a 1.3 GHz Intel Pentium-M processor and integrated 802.11b wireless
LAN capability, the AVERATEC 5100 series of notebook computers delivers
a full range of multi-media features displayed on a 15.0" diagonal
XGA screen and backed by an integrated DVD+CD-RW combo drive.
"Continuing its tradition of delivering fully mobile computing
solutions in thin and light notebook computers with superior performance,
AVERATEC raises the bar with our new 5100 series of notebook computers,"
said Saeed Shahbazi, President of AVERATEC. "The combined technologies
in these state-of-the-art, fully portable machines -- wireless capability,
extended battery life of up to five hours, and high-performance processing
worthy of the most complex desktop applications -- work together to
deliver true mobility."
At a light 6.3 pounds and measuring just 12.9" wide by 10.75"
deep by 1" high, the notebooks in the 5100 series are perfect
for customers looking for uncompromised desktop computing performance
in a lightweight portable. Powered by the Ultra Low Voltage Intel
Pentium-M with the newly introduced Centrino mobile technology, these
notebooks come equipped with wireless LAN capabilities -- a combination
of technologies that allows mobile applications to deliver superb
performance, seamless wireless connectivity and extended battery life.
The 5100 Series for the Professional or Home User
With two models initially in the series, the 5100 notebooks will
satisfy the mobile professional as well as the active home consumer.
The 5110P notebook, with Microsoft Windows XP Professional, comes
equipped with a 40GB hard drive and a built-in DVD-RW+CD-RW combo
drive for burning your own DVDs and CDs.
The 5110H notebook comes with Windows XP Home, a 40GB hard drive and
built-in DVD+CD-RW combo drive that provides true mobility without
the need for a port replicator or docking station.
Both machines feature a brilliant 15" display, 512MB DDR RAM
(expandable to 1GB), 1MB of L2 cache, built-in 10/100 LAN, built-in
56Kbps data/fax modem, a firewire port and three USB 2.0 ports.
Pricing, Availability, and Customer Service
The AVERATEC 5110P has an MSRP of $1449.99, while the AVERATEC 5110H
is only $1349.99. Beginning in August, the 5110 series of notebook
computers will be available in a variety of retail stores, including
Office Depot, Staples, and Best Buy Canada, as well as online at Bestbuy.com
and OfficeDepot.com.
Additional information, such as FAQs, How-Tos, and Technical Bulletins,
are available from the AVERATEC website (www.averatec.com).
July 30 - Fujifilm Announces Arrival of
Two New Point-and-Shoot Digital Cameras. Fuji Photo Film U.S.A.,
Inc. today announced the arrival of two new easy-to-use digital cameras.
The Fujifilm FinePix A205 and FinePix A210 combine point-and-shoot
convenience with lifelike color reproduction, allowing even new digital
photographers to capture high quality images.
The FinePix A205 has 2.0 million effective pixels, which produce
crisp 5 x 7 prints at 1600 x 1200 (1.9 million) recorded pixels. In
addition, the camera offers 3x optical and 2.5x digital zoom, and
works with Fujifilm's optional new universal CP-FXA10 Picture Cradle
for easy battery recharging, image downloading and video conferencing.
The FinePix A205 offers 10 frames/second AVI movie capabilities, and
these clips can be replayed on a TV, and recorded with a VCR, through
the cradle's easy cable set-up.
The FinePix A210 offers 3.2 million effective pixels. This allows
the camera to create vivid 8 x 10 prints at 2048 x 1536 (3.15 million)
recorded pixels, while offering 3x optical and 3.2x digital zoom.
The FinePix A210 is also compatible with the optional CP-FXA10 Picture
Cradle, and also captures 10 frames/second AVI movies.
Both cameras offer consumers sleek styling and a streamlined form
to help reduce shake. The FinePix A205 and A210 also provide AVI Motion
JPEG movie recording at 10 frames/second, making it possible for consumers
to capture everyday moments and experiences with ease.
"As the digital camera marketplace continues to experience great
growth and new interest from mainstream consumers, Fujifilm continues
to offer great, easy-to-use products for even the most timid first-time
digital photographers," said Eric Thorng, Senior Marketing Manager,
Consumer Digital Cameras, Photo Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film
U.S.A., Inc. "The FinePix A205 and A210 offer remarkable image
quality, lifelike color, and intuitive controls in a sleek and stylish
package. These cameras are outstanding additions to our comprehensive
line of first-class digital cameras."
The FinePix A205 and A210 come bundled with two AA alkaline batteries,
USB cable, video cable, wrist strap, 16MB xD-Picture Card(TM), FinePix
Viewer, and ImageMixer VCD for FinePix.
The cameras will be available for purchase in August 2003 at the suggested
list price of $199.95 for the FinePix A205 and $279.95 for the FinePix
A210.
For more information on Fujifilm products, visit www.fujifilm.com.
Jul 30 - Fujifilm Announces New Universal
Cradle System for FinePix A-Series Digital Cameras. Fuji Photo
Film U.S.A., Inc. today announced its first universal cradle system,
the CP-FXA10 Picture Cradle, which is compatible with Fujifilm's new
line of FinePix A-series digital cameras. The cradle facilitates easy
image downloads, power recharging, PC-Cam mode and also acts as a
video platform when connected to a television set.
"We know that consumers want an easy start-to-finish digital
imaging experience. By combining the functionality of a cradle that
supports entry-level line with the imaging power of our point-and-shoot
digital cameras, we can assure a facilitated shoot-store-print-share
experience," said Eric Thorng, Senior Marketing Manager, Photo
Imaging Division, Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc.
The optional universal Picture Cradle is customized for each camera
through the use of adapters that come with each of the compatible
cameras - the FinePix A205, A210 and A310. The universal CP-FXA10
Picture Cradle allows users to quickly download images through USB
port connections, making it easy to store and share digital images
electronically. The cradle's smart power system offers a two-hour
recharge time for the FinePix A-series optional NH-10 Ni-MH battery
pack. The cradle recognizes alkaline batteries, and shuts off the
recharger mode, protecting the camera and safeguarding the consumer.
In addition, the cradle may be used in PC-Cam conferencing mode,
and can be connected to other FinePix users through the FinePix Viewer
4.0 software package included with all new Fujifilm FinePix digital
cameras.
Fujifilm FinePix A-series digital cameras capture AVI Motion JPEG
movie clips that can be replayed for friends and family when using
the CP-FXA10's Picture Cradle's video out port. By connecting to a
television set, the movies can be enjoyed on a full screen, and easily
recorded with a VCR.
The universal CP-FXA10 Picture Cradle comes bundled with a USB cable,
NH-10 Ni-MH battery and an AC-3VW AC Power Adapter. The cradle will
be available for purchase in August 2003 at the suggested list price
of $74.95.
For more information on Fujifilm products, visit www.fujifilm.com.
Jul 30 - ATI Extends FireGL Graphics Accelerator
Family. ATI Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:ATYT) (TSX:ATY), is extending
its line of workstation graphics accelerators today with the introduction
of the high-end FireGL(TM) X2-256 and the entry-level FireGL(TM) T2-128.
ATI now offers a complete top-to-bottom line of workstation graphics
accelerators, all based on the same scalable architecture, which fit
into every stage of the production pipeline.
The FireGL X2-256, ATI's highest performance workstation graphics
accelerator with 256MB of unified graphics memory and dual DVI-I interfaces,
delivers fast 3D performance and superior quality imaging for professional
applications. Based on the FGL(TM) 9800 Visual Processing Unit (VPU),
the FireGL X2-256 features four geometry engines and eight parallel
rendering pipelines.
With advanced pixel shader support and hardware accelerated rendering,
this powerful accelerator enables 3D professionals to speed up their
production pipeline and render models, scenes and effects in real-time,
a quantum leap forward from traditional software rendering. With an
MSRP of $999, the FireGL X2-256 delivers high-end performance for
sophisticated CAD (computer aided design), solid modeling, DCC (digital
content creation) and visual simulation applications.
The FireGL T2-128, an entry-level workstation graphics accelerator
with 128MB of unified graphics memory and dual display support through
DVI-I and VGA connectors, brings an unprecedented level of graphics
processing power to this segment of the market. Based on the FGL(TM)
9600 VPU, this accelerator features two geometry engines and four
parallel rendering pipelines.
The FireGL T2-128 is an ideal solution for CAD, AEC (architectural
engineering and construction) and entry-level DCC users, increasing
productivity and shortening design cycles while delivering optimal
image quality. The FireGL T2-128 has an MSRP of $379, making this
is an affordable solution with the highest performance in its class.
"ATI's FireGL family now reaches into every performance segment,"
said Dr. Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research in Tiburon,
CA, the leading market research firm in computer graphics. "With
this product line expansion at the high-end and at the entry level,
ATI will be ensuring users that they can get the graphics acceleration
they require throughout the production workflow."
For more information, visit www.ati.com/FireGL.
Jul 30 - Bluetooth Semiconductor Market
Making Solid Progress. The Bluetooth semiconductor market has
made solid progress in spite of economic ups and downs, reports In-Stat/MDR
(http://www.instat.com). The high-tech market research firm reports
that final 2002 worldwide chipset shipments were 35.8 million units,
resulting in 245 percent growth over 2001. As this market's size grows
and matures, the growth rates will naturally decrease, resulting in
a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 74 percent from 2002 to 2007.
Mobile handsets, led by GSM, will remain a major driving force for
Bluetooth. Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones have grown significantly,
especially for embedded models. When the worldwide average cost for
Bluetooth solutions dipped below $10, many more models entered the
market offering Bluetooth connectivity. With the assumption that cost
will prevent a complete conversion for all phones to Bluetooth in
the near term, In-Stat/MDR believes that the uptake rate will significantly
rise as the solution cost declines.
In-Stat/MDR's research shows that there are many European and Asian
operators who see Personal Mobile Gateways (PMGs) as an opportunity
to increase Average Revenue Per Unit (ARPU) that offer other means
for service differentiation. Demand for PMG products and associated
capabilities and services could provide another driver for Bluetooth-enabled
products. PMG adds an application layer on top of the Bluetooth physical
connection and existing profiles. Several PMG equipment models are
expected by the end of 2003, as well as thin, or sleek, accessory
devices. In-Stat/MDR also expects to see some trials and increased
investigation by several European and Asian operators to occur this
year and in 2004.
In-Stat/MDR has also found that:
-- PDA manufacturers have greatly increased their Bluetooth
activity, with a number of product introductions and a marketing push.
-- Bluetooth silicon revenue will rise to $1.7 billion in 2007.
In-Stat/MDR can be found on the Web at www.instat.com.
Jul 29 - Plextor Introduces New Dual DVD+/-R/RW
Drive. Bridging the gap between the two leading DVD recordable
format standards, Plextor(R) Corp., a leading developer and manufacturer
of DVD and CD recording equipment, today announced its first ever
drive to burn DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, and CD-R/RW discs. The new Plextor
drive helps remove the risk of purchasing a DVD/CD burner that does
not comply with future DVD recording standards, and gives customers
greater flexibility in choosing which DVD recordable media they use
today.
Plextor's PX-708A drive supports 8X DVD+R and 4X DVD-R Writing; 4X
DVD+RW and 2X DVD-RW Rewriting; and 12X max DVD-Reading. The new DVD/CD
burner also boasts high-speed 40X CD-R Writing, 24X CD-RW Rewriting,
and 40X max CD-Reading. The internal ATA/ATAPI-5 interface drive includes
a bundle of premium digital media software from Roxio, Inc. (Nasdaq:ROXI),
including Easy CD & DVD Creator(R) 6.1 Basic DVD Edition and PhotoSuite(R)
5 SE.
"DVD burners today are similar to VCRs in the early Eighties,
when people had to choose between VHS and Betamax," said Howard
Wing, vice president of sales and marketing for Plextor. "With
so many different recordable formats for DVDs, how do users even know
which DVD format is compatible with their existing systems? The PX-708A
supports nearly every standard in the DVD universe, including DVD+R,
DVD+RW, DVD-R, DVD-RW, and DVD-ROM. This highly flexible standard
support makes the PX-708A the DVD/CD recorder of choice for the vast
majority of business and consumer applications."
Pricing and Availability
The Plextor PX-708A DVD+/-R/RW drive is scheduled for shipment to
distributors and resellers in North and South America in August 2003.
The PX-708A drive has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP)
of $299.00 USD. All retail packages include unlimited toll-free technical
support and one-year full warranty. Reservations for the PX-708A drive
are now being accepted at www.plextorshop.com.
Jul 29 - ALi Licenses Rambus
PCI Express PHY Technology. Rambus Inc. (Nasdaq:RMBS), a leading
provider of chip-to-chip interface products and services, and ALi
Corporation, a leading provider in the integrated circuits industry,
today announced that ALi has licensed Rambus' RaSer(TM) IP cell for
PCI Express applications. ALi will integrate the RaSer cell in its
mainstream core logic chipset products further enabling the broad
adoption of PCI Express for desktop and mobile computing systems.
"PCI Express is the emerging serial interconnect technology
for desktop, mobile and server applications," said Eric Chen,
official spokesman of ALi Corporation. "Through this collaboration
with Rambus, we will be able to provide our customers with a proven,
high-speed PCI Express-based chipsets that will allow them to achieve
optimized system performance and functionality, and design products
that can be built at the most cost effective level."
"Rambus is focused on bringing high-speed I/O to mainstream,
cost-sensitive markets," said Kevin Donnelly, vice president
of the Logic Interface Division at Rambus. "Through this partnership,
ALi's PCI Express-based products and its PC OEM customers will benefit
from Rambus' comprehensive design support and extensive experience
enabling high speed technology to the volume PC market."
Additional information about Rambus is available at www.rambus.com.
Information about ALi is available at www.ali.com.tw.
PCI Express is a trademark of PCI-SIG.
Jul 29 - Symantec Granted Summary Judgment
Against Software Counterfeiter. Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMC),
the world leader in Internet security, today announced it received
an order for summary judgment against CD Micro, Inc., based in Grants
Pass, Ore., for infringement of Symantec's trademarks and copyrights.
The order, handed down by the United States District Court for the
District of Oregon, is the alternative to a trial by jury and found
CD Micro liable for infringements associated with selling counterfeit
Symantec software. CD Micro CEO Vincent Webb also was held liable
for copyright infringement.
The order lays the groundwork for a hearing scheduled on August 8
to determine the amount of damages. Symantec is seeking to recover
at least the $3.3 million in profits that CD Micro made from the sale
of counterfeit copies of Norton SystemWorks Professional Edition software.
Symantec initiated legal proceedings against CD Micro in April 2002
after Symantec received spammed email from CD Micro offering Symantec
products at grossly reduced prices under the Web site heading of Free-IRewards.com.
Upon further investigation of the software being offered, Symantec
was able to confirm the software was counterfeit. CD Micro was unresponsive
to Symantec's inquiries into the matter, resulting in legal action
taken by Symantec to halt the distribution of the counterfeit software.
"The summary judgment against CD Micro is another critical step
in our ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of counterfeit
Symantec software," said William Plante, director, Worldwide
Security and Brand Protection for Symantec. "Counterfeit software
poses tremendous threats to users. The software may not work, causing
damage to a computer system or leaving the system unprotected to cyber
attack. Furthermore, the code of the counterfeit software itself may
contain viruses or a Trojan horse to collect the private and financial
information of the user."
In his summary judgment opinion, United States District Judge Garr
M. King found CD Micro liable for infringement of Symantec's copyrights
and of Symantec's trademarks. In the ruling pertaining to the violation
of Symantec's trademarks, the judge specifically mentioned the "too-good-to-be-true
price" offered by CD Micro as illustrating a differentiator of
legal software versus counterfeit software in this case. The judge
also found in favor of Symantec's claims for unfair competition and
trademark counterfeiting.
For more information, visit www.symantec.com.
Jul 29 - Nero 6 Now Available. Nero,
leaders in digital media technology, have announced the most comprehensive
set of CD and DVD recording tools ever compiled. Included are advanced
photo and video editing/authoring tools, DVD playback, automatically
scheduled backups, unlimited MPEG-4 (Nero Digital) encoding, DVD re-quantization
and a whole new array of features and functionality wrapped in a sleek
new interface.
The Nero 6.0 Ultra Edition includes the following components:
-- Nero StartSmart, a project launcher that makes it easy to navigate
this powerful software suite.
-- Nero Burning ROM 6, the benchmark in CD/DVD writing software.
-- Nero Express 6, which guides both beginners and experts quickly
and easily through projects.
-- NeroVision Express 2.0, a complete solution for VCD/SVCD/miniDVD
and DVD authoring with full video editing.
-- Nero Recode, state-of-the-art compression of any non-protected
DVD-Video titles to fit on standard 4,7 GB DVD discs.
The Nero 6 Ultra Edition has been available at major retailers in
the USA since July 18th and is available online at www.nero.com
as a download as of today.
All users of Nero 6 will be qualified to continuously receive free
updates within Nero 6. Nero 6 for all other parts of the world will
be introduced to retail on August 18th, 2003.
Jul 29 - Broadband Subscriber Volumes Jump
as DSL Service Providers Announce Price Drops. According to a
recently published report from Dell'Oro Group, the rate of subscriber
additions to broadband, especially DSL has accelerated with newly
announced service price drops.
"We anticipate that these price drops will entice subscribers
to sign up earlier than they would previously have done, thereby 'pulling
forward' subscribers from the latter years of our forecast,"
said Tam Dell'Oro, who researches the Broadband Access Market.
In addition, Dell'Oro Group forecasts that VDSL will be the second
largest DSL technology following ADSL. "Since VDSL offers a symmetrical
connection, it is more suitable for video applications than ADSL.
VDSL's popularity will vary widely by geographic region with the initial
growth coming from Asia, followed by Europe. We expect North America
to lag in adoption," said Ms. Dell'Oro.
"From our discussions with North American Service Providers,
we have learned that distance is a more critical issue than speed:
because VDSL equipment needs to be closer to the customer, deploying
it is expensive."
On a revenue basis, the report forecasts worldwide yearly sales of
broadband access equipment will grow from $5.0 B in 2002 to $6.4 B
in 2007.
For more information, visit www.delloro.com.
Jul 28 - IBM Announces ThinkVision
L150 and L150p Flat Panel Monitors. IBM today announced the latest
additions to its line of ThinkVision monitors, the IBM ThinkVision
L150 and L150p -- both 15-inch high-end flat panel LCD monitors offering
ThinkVantage Design characteristics that provide customers with increased
flexibility, comfort and productivity.
In a continued effort to make computing more efficient and hassle-free,
both monitors feature an on-screen display enabling fast access to
frequently used functions and a remarkable ergonomic design, giving
users greater flexibility of viewing positions.
"IBM's line of ThinkVision monitors is built around the idea
that technology must make computing more productive and effective
for the end-user," says Bob Galush, vice president, PC product
marketing, IBM Personal Computing Division. "The new L150 and
L150p were designed based on customer feedback to improve user experience
and performance."
The L150p features an ergonomic, cantilever stand that appears to
make the display float toward the user, offering smooth, effortless
tilt and lift adjustments. The stand, an IBM original ThinkVantage
design, keeps the base stationary while allowing the monitor to swivel
135 degrees in either direction. The lift function provides variable
height adjustment, so whether the user is 6-foot-4 or 4-foot-6, the
stand will adjust to a comfortable viewing position.
The L150 and L150p also feature convenient direct access buttons
for Brightness, Automatic Image setup and Input selection. One press
of the Automatic Image setup button optimizes the image quality providing
quick and easy monitor setup. Input selection allows the user to switch
between two system applications at the touch of a button.
Both monitors feature an on-screen display, allowing the user to
navigate through functions by providing both picture and text descriptions.
The L150p also offers a 400:1 contrast ratio and analog or digital
system attachment. Dual input allows the monitor to be attached to
two systems simultaneously.
Pricing and Availability
The ThinkVision L150 and L150p will be available on Aug. 1 through
www.ibm.com. IBM ThinkVision monitors are
also available through select business partners. The ThinkVision L150
is priced at $329, and the price for the ThinkVision L150p is $379.
Jul 28 - eMachines Introduces
Wireless Widescreen Notebook at $1,199. eMachines Inc., the fastest-growing
PC company in the United States according to industry analysts, today
announced a 54g(TM) wireless widescreen notebook offering optimum
wireless connectivity and screen display for $1,199 with no rebate
required.
eMachines' M5310 wireless widescreen notebook incorporates the 54g(TM)
local area network (LAN) chipset from Broadcom (Nasdaq:BRCM), the
highest performance implementation of the newly ratified IEEE 802.11g
standard. The new standard extends the data transmission rate of the
802.11b wireless standard from 11 megabytes per second (Mbps) to 54
Mbps while maintaining compatibility with the 40-million 802.11b devices
on the market.
The M5310's 15.4-inch LCD display features a 16:10 aspect ratio,
similar to widescreen TV format, and displays up to 30 percent more
viewing area than a standard 15-inch notebook screen. The system also
features an AMD Athlon(TM) 2400+ processor and a 1394 FireWire port
for high-speed connection to computer peripherals such as digital
cameras and printers.
"With its widescreen display and integrated high-speed wireless
networking capabilities, there may not be a better notebook value
on the market today than the M5310," said Wayne Inouye, president
and CEO of eMachines based in Irvine.
"The M5310 again demonstrates eMachines' commitment to offer
consumers PCs they want at prices they can afford, plus provide premier
customer service," Inouye said.
"The industry is rapidly transitioning to 802.11g, the new mainstream
wireless LAN standard, and eMachines is demonstrating technical leadership
by equipping its new M5310 notebook with the premier 802.11g technology,"
said Jeff Thermond, general manager of Broadcom's Home and Wireless
Networking Business Unit. "By incorporating 54g(TM), eMachines
customers can achieve significantly faster performance than similar
notebooks with 802.11b technology. In addition, 54g(TM)-enabled notebooks
work seamlessly with wireless LAN products on retail shelves."
eMachines supports all of its PCs and monitors through a comprehensive
Customer Care program comprised of one-year free parts, labor and
technical support with several service options, including an End-User
Replaceable Parts Program, five-day depot repair, and nationwide authorized
service centers.
For more information visit www.emachines.com.
Jul 28 - Oregon Scientific Launches Thin
1.3-Megapixel Camera. Oregon Scientific, Inc. today announced
the release of the world's thinnest 1.3-megapixel digital camera,
the latest in the company's family of thincam(TM) digital cameras.
Sporting flashy features and a 8 mm super slim figure, the new Oregon
Scientific flash thincam(TM) (Model DS6628, $149.95) follows in the
footsteps of its credit-card sized, ultra thin predecessor (DS6618,
$99.99). The DS6618, Oregon Scientific's first thincam(TM), took digital
photography to a new level when it was released earlier this year.
The engineer marvel of the Oregon Scientific thincam(TM) owns the
distinction of Thinnest Camera Ever, according to Guinness World Records(TM).
Paul Zimmerman, President of Oregon Scientific said, "We're
delighted to introduce the latest technological advancement in our
line of digital cameras. The flash thincam(TM) continues to revolutionize
photography for the average consumer, offering technical features
and high quality photos in a thin, lightweight product. Thin is in
at Oregon Scientific."
The new flash thincam(TM) is pocket-sized at 3.3" x 2.2"
x .2" and weighs 2.3 ounces. The self-contained rechargeable
48mAH lithium polymer battery provides enough power to capture approximately
500 shots between recharges, and eliminates the need to ever replace
the battery. The newly engineered plug-in strobe flash unit can be
attached or removed for beautiful indoor and outdoor photographs and
relies on its own AAA battery so it does not decrease the camera's
internal battery.
"Oregon Scientific's goal is to help users capture those priceless
moments when they wish they had a camera," Zimmerman said. "We
continued to stay 'in focus' with our latest thincam(TM). We added
new features and advanced technology, while remaining user-friendly
and reasonably priced."
PC and MAC compatible, the flash thincam(TM), attaches to a computer
through a USB interface and automatically recharges the battery. Its
16-Megabyte memory provides storage capacity for 21 1.3-megapixel
resolution pictures or 91 VGA-resolution pictures. The camera also
features an SD memory card slot for expanded memory and portability.
Oregon Scientific can be found online at
www.oregonscientific.com.
Jul 27 - Sunday Shopping
Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best Sunday
Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. A very good weekend to go
out and buy a new desktop or laptop computer.
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 is offering 24 month no-interest financing on all desktop
and laptop purchases.
Circuit City is offering
12 month no-interest financing, and $100-$150 mail-in rebates, on
advertised desktop packages and notebooks.
Office
Depot
has no store-wide promotions this Sunday.
CompUSA is offering 6 months
no payment, no interest financing on any purchase of $199 and higher.
Staples has no store-wide promotions
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, laptops, and other computer items.
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. Also see our latest InfoHQ Tech Watch
Newsletter; Free
PC and Free Internet 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
|
|
1. Best Celeron Deal
|
Compaq 2.4 GHz complete system with 17"
monitor
|
$499
|
+$30
|
CompUSA
|
|
2. Best Celeron Deal
|
Compaq 2.5 GHz complete system with 17"
monitor
|
$519
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
1. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Compaq 2.4 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel, and DVD/CD-R/W
|
$869
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.4 GHz system with 15" flat
panel, and DVD-R/W
|
$999
|
+$50
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.6 GHz complete system with 15"
flat panel, DVD-R/W, and HT Technology
|
$1299
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
4. Best Pentium 4 System
|
HP 2.8 GHz Media Center with 15"
flat panel, DVD -RW, and HT Technology
|
$1929
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
eMachines 2300+ complete system
|
$369
|
-$60
|
Circuit City
|
|
2. Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
HP 2600+ system with 15" flat panel
|
$799
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$799
|
|
Circuit City, CompUSA ($849)
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2.2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$999
|
|
Circuit City, CompUSA ($1049)
|
|
3. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Compaq 2 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$899
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
4. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
HP Athlon XP 2400+ with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1099
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
5. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Compaq Athlon XP 2400+ with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1149
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba 1.4 GHz Centrino with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1449
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 Media Center
with multiformat DVD-RW
|
$2699
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
|
|
Peripherals and Software
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 80 GB hard
drive with 8 MB buffer
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 7200 RPM 80 GB hard drive with
8 MB buffer
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 7200 RPM 200 GB hard
drive with 8 MB buffer
|
$149
(after rebates)
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
FujiFilm 256 MB USB 2.0 Flash Drive
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
PNY GeForce FX 5900 Ultra 256 MB DDR
|
$499
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
PNY GeForce FX 5900 128 MB DDR
|
$349
(after rebates)
|
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 256 MB DDR
|
$399
|
|
CompUSA, Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Xtasy Radeon 9600 256 MB DDR
|
$149
(after rebates)
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Sony 4X multiformat DVD-RW
|
$299
(after rebates)
|
+$30
|
Office Depot
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Sony 52X CD-RW
|
$59
(after rebates)
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Memorex 52X CD-RW
|
$39
(after rebates)
|
|
Office Depot
|
|
|
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.
Jul 25 - Symantec Continues
to Gain Market Share. Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMC) today announced
that a new Gartner Dataquest report reflects Symantec's continued
position as the world's leading security software provider based on
new license revenue in 2002. According to the "Worldwide 2002
Security Software Market and Vendor Shares" report, Symantec's
market share of the overall worldwide security industry increased
from 15 percent in 2001 to 19 percent in 2002, leading the list of
the world's top 25 security software vendors.
The growth of Symantec's market share was underscored by the expansion
of its lead over the second-place company from less than five percentage
points in 2001 to more than nine percentage points in 2002. According
to the report, Symantec's year-over-year growth rate of 40 percent
more than quadrupled the growth rate of the security software industry
as a whole, which came in at nine percent. Overall performance was
based on two separate segments covered in the report: security infrastructure
software and security administration software.
Symantec retained the top position for the third straight year in
the security infrastructure software segment. According to Gartner
Dataquest, the segment includes antivirus, encryption, intrusion detection,
network security (firewall and virtual private network), web content
filtering and security event and performance management software.
Symantec expanded its market share from 21 percent in 2001 to 27 percent
in 2002 while the nearest competitor's market shrunk two percentage
points between 2001 and 2002. Symantec's compound annual growth rate
of 39 percent for the period of 2000 to 2002 tripled the industry
rate of 13 percent.
"The most significant aspect of this report shows that Symantec's
market share continues to grow at a steady rate and outpace the industry
as a whole," said John Schwarz, president and chief operating
officer, Symantec.
"Blended attacks such as SQL Slammer and Bugbear will become
more frequent and severe as the time between vulnerability identification
and exploitation becomes progressively shorter and shorter. To ward
off future cyber threats, customers are adopting an integrated set
of security solution that operate at the gateway, server and client
levels. Symantec is the only provider that offers a complete integrated
alerting, internet posting, customer response and service management
solution for the enterprise user."
For more information, please visit www.symantec.com.
Jul 25 - Fujifilm Introduces USB Drive
2.0 Flash Drives. To provide users with fast, high-capacity storage
for documents, photos, music and videos, the Computer Products Division
of Fuji Photo Film U.S.A., Inc., is shipping the Fujifilm USB Drive
2.0.
This personal storage device plugs into any computer's USB port,
and is now available in a 1GB (gigabyte) capacity, providing users
with high flexibility, high- capacity storage and fast data read/write
speeds, in a pocket-sized format.
Fujifilm will ship the USB Drive 2.0, including the 1GB capacity
drives, to major retail outlets and catalog distributors in August.
The faster file transfer rates of the Fujifilm USB Drive 2.0 -- with
maximum Read-speed rate of 4MB per second and Write-speed rate of
up to 3MB per second - are nearly four times faster than the previous
generation of flash memory storage products.
The Fujifilm USB 2.0 enhancement will be available in 128MB, 256MB,
512MB and 1GB capacities. (The smaller capacity 32 MB and 64MB USB
drives will be offered at the original USB 1.1 Read-speed rate of
up to 1MB/second and Write-speed rate of up to 0.85 MB/sec.)
"The demand for the Fujifilm USB Drive from our customers has
exceeded expectations, driven by its high-capacity format and ease-of-use,"
said James Cito, Product Manager, Computer Products Division, Fuji
Photo Film U.S.A., Inc. "With the Fujifilm USB Drive 2.0, the
upgrades will open up new possibilities for unique applications for
business, leisure and home use. The USB Drive makes an excellent addition
to Fujifilm's complete line of storage products and delivers a truly
personal storage solution."
The USB Drive can store current Windows(R) and Macintosh(R) files
together with ease, and with cross-platform compatibility between
the Windows(R) and Macintosh(R) computing environments. The USB Drive
2.0 is also backward-compatible to USB Drive Version 1.1 interface.
Users now have the flexibility to move their files more easily through
home, school, business and entertainment applications. (NOTE: USB
2.0 driver support is required for USB 2.0 high-speed operations,
via your computer USB port.)
The Fujifilm USB Drive contains no moving parts, enabling it to be
lightweight and smaller than the size of your palm. No software is
necessary; the device is USB-Bus powered. It offers an onboard CPU
for easy operation via a computer's USB port. By incorporating this
powerful 32-bit processor, the Fujifilm USB Drive is capable of running
additional software applications and includes automatic boot functionality.
The 1GB USB Drive 2.0 will have a suggested list price of $499. All
packages will ship with a mini CD-R with the Windows(R) 98/Windows(R)
98 SE driver. The USB Drive 2.0 will support the following operating
environments: Windows98(R) Second Edition, Windows(R) 2000, Windows(R)
ME, Windows XP(R), Mac(R) OS 8.6 (driver downloadable at www.apple.com),
Mac(R) OS 9 and above.
For more information on Fujifilm products, consumers can access the
Fujifilm USA Web site at www.fujifilm.com.
Jul 25 - I/OMagic Introduces
New USB Floppy Drive with 7-n-1 Media Reader. I/OMagic Corporation
(OTCBB:IOMG), a leading developer and marketer of data storage and
digital entertainment devices, today introduced a unique new device
for computer users on the go -- a USB 1.1 external floppy drive with
integrated 7-n-1 media reader called the "DataStation."
The DataStation features include a small and lightweight design that
couples two essential components into one easy to travel with product
-- a floppy drive and a 7-n-1 media card reader. Highlights include
its sleek, proprietary design with a built-in lighting element and
the ability to draw power directly from the USB port of any PC/Notebook,
eliminating the need for an external power adapter.
"The DataStation is different in that there is no other drive
on the market that combines an external floppy drive with a 7-n-1
media card reader," said Tony Andrews, vice president of Engineering
and Product Development for I/OMagic Corporation. "It is an ideal
companion for people that travel. Just plug in the USB cable and download
your pictures or files."
The DataStation features sophisticated power control circuitry that
significantly reduces power consumption. It comes with a lighting
system that switches from blue to red with a touch of a button.
The DataStation is compatible with floppy disc format sizes of 720KB,
1.2MB and 1.44MB and has a maximum transfer rate of up to 400KB per
second. The 7-n-1 card reader supports Compact Flash (CF), IBM Micro
Drive, PCMCIA-ATA, Multimedia (MMC), Secure Digital (SD), Memory Stick
(MS), Memory Stick PRO, and Smart Media (SM). The DataStation comes
with a convenient travel pouch and is Windows XP, 2000, ME and 98SE
compliant.
The DataStation has an introductory price of $79.99. It recently
began shipping to Circuit City stores. For more information, visit
the I/OMagic Web site at www.iomagic.com.
Jul 25 - EZQuest Shipping Boa 4x DVD+RW/-RW
External Drives. EZQuest is shipping its new Boa FireWire and
USB 2.0 4x DVD+RW/-RW external drives. The drives are compatible with
DVD+, DVD- and all CD media --and they are complete solutions for
creating video, photo and music discs, and for backing up and archiving
data.
The FireWire version comes with Pixela IMX authoring software for
encoding iMovies to MPEG 2 and burning DVDs, and Charismac software
for burning CDs and DVDs. The USB 2.0 version comes with Sonic MyDVD
Video & CD Burning Suite for authoring DVD movies, and burning
DVDs and CDs. Both versions include Retrospect Express software for
scheduling automatic backups. The drives are available now in the
U.S. at an MSRP of $299.
"Our new dual-format drives give users complete flexibility
and control," said Ebrahim Zmehrir, EZQuest president. "Users
can select from DVD+, DVD- or CD media, and match the best format
to each application. They can also be confident that, whichever direction
DVD standards take in the future, the dual-format drive will remain
compatible."
"We've selected awesome, easy-to-use software for both versions
of the drive," continued Zmehrir. "Pixela IMX, Sonic MyDVD
and Charismac have a range of powerful features and capabilities --
and Retrospect software is known for its dependability and secure
backup options."
The Boa dual-format drives write to DVD+R and DVD-R media at 4x;
DVD+RW and DVD-RW at 2x; CD-R at 16x; and CD-RW at 8x speeds -- and
they read DVD-ROM at 12x and CD-ROM at 32x speeds. The FireWire version
is compatible with Mac OS 9.1 and 10.1.2 or later; the USB 2.0 version
is compatible with WIN 98SE, ME, 2000 and XP. Both drives have a one-year
warranty.
A downloadable Boa spec sheet and a list of dealers are available
at www.ezq.com.
Jul 25 - PestPatrol Launches Free On-line
Spyware Detection Service. PestPatrol, Inc., the leading developer
of security software to detect and eliminate spyware, adware, trojans
and hacker tools from corporate networks and home user PCs, today
launched the first comprehensive online spyware detection service.
PestScan(SM) from PestPatrol(TM) is a web-based program that runs
right from the PestPatrol website, downloading just a few small components
to the user's computer. It is designed to provide a quick and easy
way to scan Windows PCs for spyware, keyloggers, and other computer
pests in the places they are most likely to be hiding. The PestScan
results link directly to PestPatrol's extensive pest information database,
enabling users to find out exactly what the threat level is.
"PestPatrol was the first broad-based commercial spyware detection
product when we launched it more than two years ago, and we're delighted
to be once more at the forefront of the battle against spyware with
the first broad-based online scanning service", said Bob Bales,
CEO and co-founder of PestPatrol, Inc. "PC users around the world
will be able to check their computers for spyware, adware, keyloggers,
browser helper objects and more in just a few minutes, and we are
in discussion with a number of companies to license PestScan technology."
PestScan can be accessed through the PestScan button on the www.pestpatrol.com
home page or directly at www.pestscan.com.
The PestScan microsite is self-contained, with simple instructions
for downloading the ActiveX code, running the scan, and interpreting
the results, as well as direct links to the master pest information
database and the rest of the PestPatrol site. The technology behind
PestScan represents the first publicly available implementation of
the overhauled and streamlined engine that will underlie future releases
of the PestPatrol product range.
"The spyware problem is growing at a significant pace,"
said Eric Ogren, senior analyst at the Yankee Group. "It is clear
that end-users need to take steps to keep their computers secure from
spyware. PestPatrol is to be commended for its innovation in creating
the PestScan service and enabling end-users to feel more confident
that their privacy is being protected when they are online. Additionally,
companies operating e-commerce sites should consider PestScan to ensure
that corporate electronic assets are protected as well."
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