Mar 31 - Dell Introduces New Value-Packed Notebook. Designed
for the value-conscious customer and equipped with more advanced
features such as internal wireless connectivity, Dell(tm) (Nasdaq:DELL)
today announced the Inspiron(tm) 1150, an affordable and highly
customizable notebook packed with numerous practical capabilities.
Priced starting at $799, the Inspiron 1150 is exceptionally flexible
and offers advanced optional features traditionally associated
with higher priced notebooks. With the introduction of the Inspiron
1150, all Dell notebooks now offer internal wireless Internet
capabilities. The 1150 offers two optional internal wireless cards
for hassle-free connections to Internet-based applications. Customers
can choose between the Dell Wireless 1350 802.11b/g 54Mbps Mini-PCI
Wireless Card or the Dell Wireless 1450 Dual Band 802.11a/b/g
54Mbps Mini-PCI Wireless Card.
There are also two LCD screen sizes at either 14.1- or 15.0-inch
XGA TFT resolutions. Memory can be custom configured from 256MB
to 1GB Shared DDR, and there are four hard drive options ranging
from 20GB to 60GB, providing customers with ample storage capacities
to accommodate their needs.
Furthermore, the Dell Inspiron 1150 comes with either an Intel(R)
Celeron(R) 2.40GHz or 2.60GHz processor or a Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R)
4 2.40GHz or 2.66GHz processor. Both processors sets enable users
to power through essential computing tasks such as Internet access,
e-mail, and personal productivity applications.
The Inspiron 1150 features the Dell Solution Center, an on-line
tool with automated self-diagnostics that can help troubleshoot
and fix problems. And the user can open and conduct a live e-mail
chat with a member of Dell's service and support staff. The Inspiron
1150 comes standard with a 1-Year Limited Warranty and 1-Year
Mail-In Service.
For more information about Inspiron products, go to www.dell.com/inspiron.
Mar 31 - Hynix Announces Industry
First 1GB DDR2 SODIMM. Hynix Semiconductor Inc. (www.hynix.com)
today announced the launch of its industry-first 1GB DDR2 SODIMM
(Small Out Dual In-line Memory Module) manufactured on its leading
edge 0.11-micron technology.
The newly launched 1GB DDR2 SODIMM, supporting 400 and 533MHz,
were developed to meet the projected DDR2 demand for notebook
applications in second half of this year. Hynix is planning to
begin mass production of 1GB DDR2 SODIMM next quarter to coincide
with the release of Intel DDR2 chipset.
Mar 31 - Top Ten Ways to Avoid Wi-Fi
Hijacking. JiWire, the source for wireless broadband information,
today released the top ten ways to avoid being hijacked when connecting
to the Internet wirelessly.
With the number of hotspot users expected to grow to 30 million
worldwide by the end of 2004 (Gartner Group), and the number of
hotspots topping 35,000 (JiWire), now more than ever, hijackers
have the opportunity to crack wireless networks and steal data.
Responding to the recent break-ins and the growing concern by
those that use hotspots for communication on-the-go, JiWire's
editorial team has developed the following recommendations for
mobile professionals:
The Top 10 Ways to Work Securely at Public Hotspots:
1. Make sure you're connected to a legitimate access point.
2. Encrypt files before transferring or emailing them.
3. Use a virtual private network (VPN).
4. Use a personal firewall.
5. Use anti-virus software.
6. Update your operating system regularly.
7. Be aware of people around you.
8. Use Web-based email that employs secure http (https).
9. Turn off file sharing.
10. Password-protect your computer and important files.
The full article and additional "how to" details about
how
to avoid wireless hijacking on-the-road and at home.
Mar 31 - IT Manager Poll Shows Opening
Unknown Attachments Presents Highest Security Risk. Almost
half of IT managers believe that opening an unknown attachment
is the most serious security offense their users can commit, according
to a recent poll of IT administrators and security consultants
conducted by WatchGuard Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:WGRD). More
than three-fourths (79 percent) of respondents also indicated
that a virus has successfully penetrated their network defenses
at least once in the past year.
Results from a related survey conducted by the company, a leading
provider of Internet security solutions for the small- to mid-size
enterprise (SME) market, indicate that only seven percent of users
obey security policies to the letter while 46 percent don't even
try to work securely.
"While recent high-profile virus attacks have led many organizations
to take more stringent measures to educate users, these findings
suggest that trying to enforce security policies only through
behavior modification is a risky proposition," said Mark
Stevens, chief strategy officer at WatchGuard.
"The safest option is to deploy a security solution such
as a WatchGuard Firebox appliance that can identify threats within
the application layer and remove potentially dangerous attachments
altogether. With application layer security that protects against
entire classes of attacks built into the security appliance, you
don't need to have a specific virus signature on file and you
don't need to rely on user discretion. This is particularly important
in small- and mid-size enterprises. They are just as vulnerable
to attacks as large enterprises, but are challenged to stay on
top of the security landscape with limited resources."
WatchGuard also asked IT managers to share their strategies for
preventing users from opening unknown attachments. The most common
response was to filter unauthorized attachments at the firewall
before they reach the user. A summary of the responses is available
online at www.watchguard.com/lsspoll.
Users and Security Breaches
When asked to identify the user errors or habits representing
the most severe breaches of security, 40 percent of respondents
said that opening an unknown attachment is more damaging than
failing to implement mandatory virus updates, installing an unauthorized
wireless network or making a password easily accessible to others
(each selected by 14 percent of respondents). The results indicate
that administrators perceive infected attachments to be the greatest
security threat to organizations, despite the fact that most organizations
have anti-virus software in place.
Users and Security Policies
In a separate poll, WatchGuard asked IT managers whether their
users obey company security policies. Though the findings showed
that 47 percent of users mostly adhere to their organizations'
policies, a large percentage -- 31 percent -- only do so when
it suits them. A further twelve percent obey security policies
only by chance and three percent ignore the rules altogether.
Mar 31 - Pay TV Providers Help Drive
Rapid Growth of Digital Video Recorder Market. Despite slow
adoption rates and marketing efforts that never really hit home
with consumers, digital video recorders (DVRs) - devices that
use an internal hard drive to record programming - are finally
reaching the masses. Spurred in large part by cable and satellite
TV providers investing heavily in DVR-enabled set-top boxes in
the U.S., IDC forecasts that worldwide unit shipments will climb
to more than 28 million in 2008, a compound annual growth rate
(CAGR) of 46.9% between 2003 and 2008.
"Consumers are finally beginning to get it," said Greg
Ireland, senior research analyst, Consumer Markets: Video. "For
the first time the DVR vendors are getting through to people and
showing them that these devices are more than just high-priced
VCRs. The pay TV providers can take a lot of the credit, and reap
the rewards, for finally breaking through to consumers."
In the United States, DVR adoption has become a function of the
heated competition between cable and satellite television providers.
Initially, satellite providers emphasized DVR offerings to combat
cable televisions' investment in video-on-demand (VOD), and now
cable is being forced to respond. "This strategy has done
more in one year to advance the understanding and acceptance of
DVRs than standalone options, such as TiVo, had done in the previous
five years," Ireland added.
The DVR market in Western Europe, although not quite as aggressive,
closely resembles that of the United States, relying heavily on
pay TV providers to advance DVR penetration. In Japan, however,
things are quite different as DVR/DVD-recorders are igniting the
market.
These combo devices will ship 11.3 million units worldwide in
2008, with nearly 80% of the shipments happening outside the United
States. Standalone DVR shipments will decline toward the second
half of the forecast period as these devices increasingly add
DVD recording functionality. In fact, the DVR/DVD-recorder segment
will continue to grow and account for nearly 40% of the entire
worldwide DVR market in 2008.
Key Findings
-- At the end of 2003, there were 3.2 million U.S. DVR households
-- Despite its strong brand, which is virtually synonymous with
the DVR product category, TiVo owns only 39% of the U.S. market
-- Unlike in the U.S., DVR/DVD-recorder devices have ignited
the Japanese market
-- In the U.S. and Japan, DVR will increasingly incorporate high-definition
(HD) capabilities
-- Storage capacity will become more important as more DVR users
wish to build larger and larger libraries of content.
Additional information can be found at www.idc.com.
Mar 30 - BFG Technologies Offers
Consumers More Performance with New Overclocked 3D Graphics Cards.
BFG Technologies, Inc., a leading U.S.-based supplier of advanced
3D graphics cards and other PC enthusiast products, announced
today that their two newest cards, BFG GeForce(TM) FX 5900XT OC(TM)
and BFG GeForce(TM) FX 5500 OC(TM) will be faster than standard
cards with the same chipset due to BFG's custom "out-of-the-box"
overclocking.
"BFG knows that many gamers like to push their hardware
to the max," said Scott Herkelman, EVP Marketing for BFG
Technologies, Inc. "Overclocking a card can give a significant
performance boost during gaming and other 3D applications, but
the process can be risky and certainly voids the warranty. That's
why we've begun overclocking our cards in the factory when possible.
We increase the core clock up to a significant but safe level,
giving end users more performance without voiding our lifetime
warranty or adding cost."
BFG GeForce(TM) FX 5900XT OC(TM) features 128 MB DDR memory,
430 MHz core clock (vs. 390 MHz standard), 735 MHz effective memory
clock, 23.5 GB memory bandwidth and Microsoft(R) Direct X(R) 9.0
support. This 8X AGP card also offers NVIDIA(R) UltraShadow(TM)
technology, NVIDIA(R) CineFX(TM) 2.0 engine, NVIDIA(R) nView(TM)
multi-display technology and NVIDIA(R) Forceware(TM) unified software
environment (USE).
MSRP: $229.99
BFG GeForce(TM) FX 5500 OC(TM) features 256 MB DDR memory and
a 290 MHz core clock (vs. 270 MHz standard). This 8X AGP card
also offers NVIDIA(R) CineFX(TM) 2.0 engine, NVIDIA(R) nView(TM)
multi-display technology and NVIDIA(R) Forceware(TM) unified software
environment (USE).
MSRP: $149.99
BFG Technologies offers a true lifetime warranty and free 24/7
online and telephone technical support on all of its graphics
cards.
For more information about BFG Technologies' products, visit
www.bfgtech.com.
Mar 30 - IDC Forecasts 56% LCD Panel
Revenue Growth in 2004. The demand for LCD-TVs will drive
the next wave of growth in the LCD panel market according to IDC's
new study, Worldwide TFT-LCD Demand and Supply 2004-2007 Forecast.
This study predicts that, due to the growth of LCD-TV demand,
the TFT-LCD market, which includes LCD-TV panels, notebook LCD
panels, and desktop monitor LCD panels, will grow by a compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% from $24 billion in 2003 to reach
$42 billion in 2007. This year the total LCD panel market revenue
will grow by 56% to $37 billion.
"The TFT-LCD market is expected to double its current size
over the forecast period," said Stanley Jeong, research manager
for TFT-LCD research at IDC. "Most notably, revenue in the
LCD-TV market segment will grow at such a torrid pace that it
will exceed the revenue in the LCD-notebook panel market by 2005."
Additional findings from IDC's study include:
-- The 17-inch panel size will become the most popular for desktop
PC LCD monitors during 2004, accounting for 60% of total desktop
PC LCD monitor demand. 19-inch panels will account for 40% share
by 2007.
-- By 2007, 43% of LCD-TV panels will be over 30 inches, increasing
sharply from 4% in 2003, due to the introduction of sixth- and
seventh-generation LCD production lines dedicated to LCD-TV market
segment.
-- 14.1-inch and 15-inch panels will remain the mainstream size
for notebooks. The combined market share for these two LCD panel
sizes will hover around 90% from 2004 to 2007. Panels under 14.1
inches will actually disappear during the forecast period.
-- On a percentage basis, higher unit demand than revenue implies
that the LCD market will be oversupplied during the forecast period
and experience notable price erosion, especially from 2005 and
beyond.
For a graphical representation of IDC's worldwide TFT-LCD panel
market revenue forecast, please go to IDC.
Mar 30 - Check Point Software Completes
Zone Labs Acquisition. Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
(Nasdaq:CHKP), the worldwide leader in securing the Internet,
announced today that it has completed its acquisition of Zone
Labs(R), Inc., the market leader in endpoint security.
Check Point paid approximately $114 million in cash and issued
approximately 5.3 million Check Point shares, and will also assume
employee stock options of Zone Labs, which could become exercisable
for approximately 2.8 million additional Check Point shares.
"Together, Zone Labs and Check Point deliver the industry's
first comprehensive end-to-end security solutions by providing
integrated Internal, Perimeter and Web protection," said
Gil Shwed, chairman and CEO of Check Point Software. "Check
Point and Zone Labs technology and market leadership, channel
reach and broad security products portfolio form the basis for
a powerful offering of best-of-breed solutions for a broad range
of customers, from consumers to large enterprises."
Zone Labs' endpoint security products now protect more than 25
million Internet users and more than 1,400 enterprise customers
from the threats posed by hackers, data theft and malicious code.
Zone Labs' award-winning product line includes Zone Labs Integrity(TM),
its flagship enterprise endpoint security solution, ZoneAlarm(R)
Pro, its acclaimed personal firewall for consumer and small business
users, and the IMsecure(R) product line, the company's instant
messaging (IM) security solutions for enterprises, small businesses
and consumers.
"The Zone Labs team is looking forward to the many great
things these two companies can accomplish together," said
Gregor Freund, CEO and co-founder of Zone Labs. "We share
a common vision to meet the ever-changing security needs of consumers,
small business, medium business and enterprise customers."
For more information, visit www.checkpoint.com.
Mar 30 - The Elusive 18-34 Year-Old
is Habitually Online. The Online Publishers Association (OPA)
released today the first in a series of research reports designed
to provide a detailed view of the 18 to 34 year-old consumer.
The first installment of the research, conducted in partnership
with comScore Networks, found that 72% of all 18 to 34 year-olds
are online - the highest percentage of any age group.
Notably, 18 to 34 year-olds account for a significantly larger
share of Internet usage relative to their proportion in the total
U.S. population. While 18 to 34 year-olds comprise only 24% of
the total U.S. population, they account for 38% of the total time
spent online and 40% of the total pages viewed. This skew is even
more pronounced among men in this age group.
"The recent debate surrounding the shifting media consumption
patterns of 18 to 34 year-olds demands a deeper look into this
important consumer segment," said Michael Zimbalist, executive
director of the Online Publishers Association. "Because this
group represents the first 'generation' to have grown up with
the Internet, their behavior patterns are a harbinger of future
media consumption of the population at large."
Coming of Age in the Digital Age
Like all Internet users, 18 to 34 year-olds are most likely to
go online at home, from work or from school. However, 18 to 34
year-olds are significantly more likely than other age groups
to access the Web from other non-traditional locations. For example,
within 30 days of the survey date, 24% of 18 to 34 year-olds accessed
the Web from a friend/relative's home, 16% accessed the Internet
via cell phone, and 8% accessed the Web from a library - a significantly
higher percentage than any other age group.
"Eighteen to 34 year-olds feel a perpetual need to stay
connected. This group expects to get online whenever they choose
and wherever they are," said Mr. Zimbalist.
Eighty-two percent of these consumers report that they are comfortable
with new technologies, and more than one-third claim that they
are among the first within their peer groups to buy the latest
technology gadgets. In fact, 18 to 34 year-olds are significantly
more likely than the average Internet user to own a number of
digital devices. For example, 17% own an MP3 player (vs. 12%),
and 48% own a video game console (vs. 32%).
Let 'Net Entertain You!
More than any other age group, 18 to 34 year olds consider the
Internet to be one of the most important sources of entertainment
available to them. They use the Internet both as a primary source
of entertainment and as a resource for entertainment news and
information. Forty percent use the Web to help choose a movie
to watch (and to find out where/when it's playing), while about
one-third use it to view local restaurant and club listings.
Astonishingly, on a daily basis, an average of 30% of all 18
to 34 year-old Internet users visit an entertainment Web site.
That rivals the percentage who typically read the arts/entertainment
section of the newspaper (32%) and exceeds the percentage who
regularly read entertainment magazines (19%).
Beyond just visiting entertainment and music sites, 18 to 34
year-olds are more likely to engage in downloading, sharing and
burning music and videos online and are more avid consumers of
online video content than any other age group.
Mars and Venus: Gender Differences Play Out in Visitation Data
Overall, entertainment-related sites, as well as the careers,
personals and classifieds categories, show above-average visitation
among 18 to 34 year olds regardless of gender. However, significant
gender differences do exist within the 18-34 year old population
when analyzing visitation data.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 18 to 34 year old females are disproportionately
more likely to visit retail categories than the average Internet
user. In fact, 10 of the 15 categories with the highest proportion
of females 18 to 34 years old are retail categories. However,
with a few interesting exceptions - namely tickets and consumer
electronics - males 18 to 34 year-olds are focused on non-retail
categories, such as gaming, automotive and sports.
Detailed findings from this report can be found at the Online
Publishers Association Web site at www.online-publishers.org.
Mar 29 - HP and Novell Expand Relationship
to Offer Linux From Desktop to Datacenter. HP and Novell (Nasdaq:
NOVL) today announced a joint agreement to certify and support
the Novell® SUSE® LINUX operating system on select HP
Compaq client systems. Today's announcement expands HP's multi-OS
strategy across servers and PCs, offering customers unprecedented
choice to run alternative applications with global support, training
and consulting from HP.
The agreement builds upon HP's existing certification of Novell
SUSE LINUX across HP's industry-standard HP ProLiant and HP Integrity
servers, storage, software and services. In 2003, HP was the worldwide
leader in revenue and unit shipments for x86 and Itanium Linux
servers. According to IDC, HP was the market leader in unit shipments
in Q4 2003 for both x86 and Itanium Linux servers, with 27% and
42% share, respectively.(1)
"HP is now the first major technology vendor to offer enterprise
customers a single, proven Linux solution from desktop to datacenter,"
said Martin Fink, vice president of Linux, HP. "Our relationship
with Novell is based on a joint commitment to innovation, low-cost
platforms, and total customer experience. HP was first to market
with Linux-based servers, first to provide a Linux indemnity program
for qualified customers, first to reach 2.5 billion in revenue
- and the first major technology vendor to certify and support
a single, complete, open standards Linux environment."(2)
As part of the joint agreement, Novell SUSE LINUX will become
HP's standard Linux distribution across its portfolio of business
desktop and notebook PCs in North America, with Europe, Middle
East, Africa (EMEA) and Asia-Pacific countries at a later date.
HP and Novell will also offer product support for Linux-based
business PCs and, with certain support contracts, HP will provide
qualified customers indemnity against possible litigation from
SCO. (2)
"Novell and HP share a rich tradition of innovation and
support for the enterprise," said Chris Stone, vice chairman,
office of the CEO, Novell. "Novell is working hard to reduce
barriers to enterprise adoption of Linux, delivering the security,
scalability and reliability for which Novell is historically known,
to Linux environments - including the desktop. HP's decision to
standardize on SUSE LINUX reflects growing industry support for
Novell's open platform strategy."
Starting from a modest position in the overall market, IDC's
forecast for paid Linux client operating system new license shipments
call for a 2002-2007 compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4%.
"We expect Linux client growth to be led by emerging markets
in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Central Europe," says
Al Gillen, research director, System Software at IDC. "Adoption
will be less broad in well-established markets due to momentum
of the installed base for both operating systems and the applications
that are installed aboard those environments. We see an opportunity
for Linux client systems, and the package that HP and Novell plan
to offer could be an attractive option for users considering a
Linux client solution."
More information about HP (NYSE, Nasdaq: HPQ) is available at
www.hp.com. For more information
about Novell, visit www.novell.com.
Mar 29 - SimpleTech Announces Industry's
Highest Capacity External Hard Drive; 400GB SimpleDrive. SimpleTech,
Inc. (Nasdaq: STEC), a designer, manufacturer and marketer of
custom and open-standard memory solutions based on Flash memory
and DRAM technologies, today announced the industry's highest
capacity external hard drive – a 400GB SimpleDrive Deluxe
with a USB 2.0 & FireWire combination. The company also extended
its SimpleDrive Deluxe product line with the addition of 120,
160, and 250GB capacities.
SimpleDrive External Hard Drives are a cost-effective way to
add storage to any Mac or PC desktop or notebook computer quickly
and easily, and they are also ideal for backing up data. SimpleDrive
External Hard Drives are also available with USB 2.0-only.
The 400GB SimpleDrive External Hard Drives provide enough capacity
to store a combination of 6,500 hours of high quality digital
music, 7,200 digital photos, 16 hours of digital video, 72 digital
games and 120 software programs.
"The storage demands of data-rich applications, such as
digital photography, digital music, multimedia files, software
applications, games and operating systems, are met by the SimpleDrive
product offerings," said Ken Roberts, director of product
marketing at SimpleTech. "Additionally, external storage
should be part of any good backup strategy plan, in the office,
on the road or at home."
For added data safety and security, SimpleTech's StorageSync™
automatic backup software for Windows is included free with the
SimpleDrive. The software is easy to use and is completely automatic,
enabling fast and easy backup, restoration and synchronization
for an entire PC or selected files and folders.
SimpleDrive External Hard Drives offer lightning-fast storage
with transfer speeds up to 480 Mb/sec. and operates at 7200 RPM
for fast throughput. The SimpleDrives are also backward compatible
with USB 1.1 and compatible with Window's® and Macintosh®
operating systems. They offer convenient plug-and-play installation
and are mass storage compliant and hot-swappable.
SimpleDrive External Hard Drives include a security lock slot
to prevent unauthorized removal of the SimpleDrive, providing
the reliability and security that users demand. A security cable
can be used to attach the drive to a secure and immovable object,
such as a wall or desk.
With a newly designed fan-free sleek aluminum case, the drives
dissipate heat, providing ultra-quiet and cool operation. The
SimpleDrive measures 5.51" (H) x 8.86" (L) X 1.35"
(D).
Manufacturers suggested retail price for the 400GB SimpleDrive
High-Speed USB 2.0 & FireWire Combo External Hard Drive is
$499.99, and $469.99 for the 400GB capacity with USB 2.0-only.
General availability of the new 400GB SimpleDrive External Hard
Drive is expected in April. SimpleTech External Hard Drives are
available at BJ's Wholesales, Sam's Club, Amazon.com, Buy.com,
CDW, J&R Music World, Ingram Micro, Micro Center, Insight,
NewEgg, PC Connection, PC Mall, Zones, and SimpleTech's online
retail store.
The 400GB SimpleDrive External Hard Drives come with a three-year
warranty backed by SimpleTech's reputation for quality and support.
For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.simpletech.com.
Mar 29 - GlobalSCAPE Releases New
Version of its Popular CuteFTP. GlobalSCAPE Inc. (OTCBB:GSCP),
a leading supplier of secure file management and content management
solutions, announced today the release of CuteFTP 6.0(TM) Home
and Professional.
CuteFTP is used by millions of technology professionals and computer
enthusiasts to easily transfer files between local and remote
computers, anywhere in the world. Version 6.0 represents major
enhancements to the product line and is built on a new foundation,
incorporating the latest technologies in areas such as security,
automation and ability to manage data.
"CuteFTP 6.0's new foundation enables GlobalSCAPE to rapidly
respond to customer needs for file management capabilities and
data security, a key concern when using the Internet as a transport
vehicle. In addition, CuteFTP 6.0 Professional, when used with
its Secure FTP Server counterpart, can provide the basis of an
organization's data management strategy to accomplish goals including
moving files to their Web servers, and sharing mission-critical
information with customers, partners and off-site employees, safely
and cost-effectively," said Randy Poole, GlobalSCAPE president
and COO.
"GlobalSCAPE's secure file management solution rivals high-end
electronic data interchange (EDI) and commerce systems, a major
component of which is secure file transfer, identity authentication,
and post-transaction event handling," continued Poole. "Our
solution is extremely reliable, easy to deploy and manage, is
standards-based, and accomplishes serious business goals with
a modest investment," concluded Poole.
Pricing and Availability
A free 30-day trial of CuteFTP 6.0 Home and Professional editions
for Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP is available immediately at http://www.globalscape.com.
CuteFTP 6.0 Home has a standard list price of $39.99 per single-user
license. CuteFTP 6.0 Professional has a standard list price of
$59.99 per single-user license. Upgrade pricing is available for
existing customers and volume discounts are offered for quantities
of five or more.
Mar 28 - Sunday Shopping Watch.
Best Sunday Deals - See our Best
Sunday Ad Deals Table below for specific system prices.
Weekly Comparison. A good weekend to shop
for a laptop or desktop.
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 12 month no-interest financing on all
desktop packages and laptops, and $150 mail-in rebate on advertised
laptops and desktop packages.
Circuit City is offering
12 months no interest financing, and up to $150 mail-in rebates
on advertised desktop packages and notebooks.
Office
Depot
is offering rebates on advertised systems.
CompUSA is offering rebates
on advertised systems.
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
|
eMachines 2.7 GHz complete system
with 17" monitor
|
$389
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best Celeron Deal
|
Compaq 2.7 GHz complete system with 17" monitor
|
$419
|
-
|
Office Depot, Circuit City
|
|
3. Best Celeron Deal
|
Compaq 2.8 GHz complete system with 17" monitor
|
$519
|
-
|
CompUSA, Best Buy
|
|
1. Best Pentium 4 System
|
Sony 2.8 GHz Pentium 4 complete system
with HT Technology, 17 inch flat panel, and DVD-RW
|
$1279
|
-
|
Best Buy, Circuit City
|
|
2. Best Pentium 4 System
|
HP 3.0E GHz Pentium 4 complete system
with HT Technology, 15 inch flat panel, and DVD-RW
|
$1299
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
3. Best Pentium 4 System
|
HP 3.0 GHz Pentium 4 Media Center
complete system with HT Technology, 15 inch flat panel,
and DVD-RW
|
$1549
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
1. Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
HP Athlon 3000+ complete system with
17 inch monitor and DVD/CD-RW
|
$699
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
2. Best AMD Athlon XP System
|
eMachines Athlon 3200+ complete system
with 17 inch monitor and DVD-RW drive
|
$689
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best AMD Athlon 64 System
|
Athlon 3200+ complete system with
15 inch flat panel and DVD-RW drive
|
$1129
|
|
CompUSA
|
|
1. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Compaq 2.6 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$699
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
2. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Toshiba 2.6 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$799
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
3. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
eMachines widescreen 2.8 GHz Celeron
with DVD/CD-RW
|
$849
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
4. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
HP 2.8 GHz Celeron with DVD/CD-RW
|
$849
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
5. Best Low-cost Laptop
|
Compaq Pentium 4 2.66 GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1049
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
1. Best High-end Notebook
|
Sony Pentium 4 2.8 GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1249
|
-
|
CompUSA
|
|
2. Best High-end Notebook
|
eMachines Athlon 64 3000+ with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1299
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
3. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba widescreen Centrino 1.5
GHz with DVD/CD-RW
|
$1549
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
4. Best High-end Notebook
|
HP widescreen Pentium 4 2.8 GHz
with HT Technology and DVD-RW
|
$1699
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
5. Best High-end Notebook
|
Toshiba widescreen Pentium 4 3.0
GHz with HT Technology and DVD-RW
|
$1849
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
|
|
Peripherals and Software
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Seagate 120 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
with 8 MB buffer
|
$79
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Western Digital 200 GB 7200 RPM
Hard Drive with 8 MB buffer
|
$129
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Circuit City
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Seagate 200 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
with 8 MB buffer
|
$129
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Maxtor 250 GB 7200 RPM Hard Drive
with 8 MB buffer
|
$159
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Office Depot
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
ATI All-In-Wonder 9600 128 MB
|
$179
(after rebates)
|
-
|
Best Buy
|
|
Best Sunday Deal
|
Plextor 8X DVD-RW
|
$149
(after rebates)
|
-
|
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.
Mar 26 - Symantec Named Most Trusted
Managed Security Services Provider. Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMC),
the world leader in Internet security, today announced that Symantec
Managed Security Services was named the most trusted security
service provider in a survey by The Yankee Group. According to
the results of The Yankee Group's Enterprise Security Spending
Survey, Symantec Managed Security Services took the number one
spot with 31 percent of the survey's respondents naming it their
most trusted choice.
"As corporations acknowledge the value of data as a business
asset in today's information age, they recognize that in order
to effectively manage risk, they need to partner with a world-class
security provider," said Grant Geyer, vice president, Global
Symantec Managed Security Services. "A security partnership
demands shared responsibility, and it is imperative to trust your
managed security provider. Symantec is honored to be selected
as the most-trusted security services provider by business practitioners
who identify with this critical obligation."
Results of the Enterprise Security Spending Survey are based
on responses from decision-makers in medium-sized to large companies
with more than 500 employees. These companies represent a wide
range of industries, including manufacturing, professional services,
healthcare, financial services, and education. In addition to
singling out Symantec as their most trusted managed security services
vendor, respondents also pointed to price, business knowledge,
breadth of services, and responsiveness as their primary criteria
when selecting a security service provider.
"Success in the managed security services arena means offering
the right combination of services at the right price," said
Phebe Waterfield, analyst at Yankee Group. "According to
our survey, Symantec has earned a reputation as the most trusted
security service provider based on the three core criteria --
price, responsiveness and service breadth."
The Yankee Group also reported that managed security services
are on the way to becoming a nearly $4 billion market. Driving
this market need are regulatory compliance and network integrity
challenges. The survey also found that 54 percent of respondents
reported that their security budgets will increase over the next
three years -- with only 8 percent anticipating a decrease. In
addition, antivirus, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS)
and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) were the No. 1 budgeted
items for 56 percent of respondents.
Symantec Managed Security Services delivers industry-leading
security monitoring, management, and response to clients. Its
24x7 real-time services enhance an organization's information
security posture through continuous monitoring and management,
expert analysis of log data, and immediate response to potential
security threats as they are detected. Based on Symantec's ground-breaking
security operations center (SOC) technology, Symantec Managed
Security Services are delivered through a unique and highly effective
combination of skilled personnel, best practice processes, and
state-of-the-art technology.
More information is available at www.symantec.com.
Mar 26 - Addonics Allows Users to
Hot-Swap Hard Drives Like Data Cartridges. Addonics Technologies
today announced the first hard drive solution that enables any
standard 2.5-inch IDE hard drive to be used like a hot-swap data
cartridge.
The Combo Hard Drive (CHD) USIB25 is based on Addonics' patent
pending USIB drive cradle, which allows users to easily install
a hot swap drive bay into a standard 3.5" drive bay (or 5.25
bay with optional adapter) in any desktop, server, or computing
enclosure via the USB, Firewire or Serial ATA (SATA) interface
without any expensive or complicated hardware or software. The
same hard drive can also become an external mobile storage device
and attach to any system that does not have a drive bay with the
appropriate Addonics external cable.
Unlike other external hard drive enclosures that limit users
to a single interface, the drive enclosure in the Combo Hard Drive
USIB25 attaches to any computer via USB 2.0/1.1, Firewire/iLink,
CardBus/ PCMCIA, Serial ATA or future interface standards. You
can remove any drive in seconds and share or replace it with another.
Expanding storage options has never been quicker and transferring
data between systems has never been easier.
The versatility of the Combo Hard Drive assures that data stored
on your hard drive is easily accessible by a wide variety of computers,
including systems with legacy hardware and operating systems.
It also provides security since the drive enclosure can be quickly
removed from the system like a data cartridge to lock away sensitive
information, without shutting down and restarting the system.
The flexible power connection allows users to power the hard
drive enclosure from the USB port, Firewire port, PCMCIA slot,
PC power supply or the AC/DC adapter.
Maximum data transfer rates vary by the interface used and range
from 1.5 Mbytes/sec for USB 1.1 to 150 Mbytes/sec for Serial ATA.
Hot swap is certified with USB, Firewire under Windows 98SE, Me,
2000 or XP, and Serial ATA (when used with Addonics SATA Host
controller) under Windows 2000 and XP.
The Addonics Combo Hard Drive USIB25 includes one Drive Enclosure,
and one USIB25 Drive Cradle in a choice of ivory or dark brown.
The package also includes a 110/220 AC/DC 5V power adapter; driver
CD for Windows 98SE; and one USB 2.0, PCMCIA, Firewire or external
SATA interface cable depending on the model.
The MSRP for the Combo Hard Drive USIB25 with USB 2.0 is $79;
$99 with Firewire; $89 with CardBus/PCMCIA, and $89 with SATA.
Addonics products are available through the company online store
www.shopaddonics.com,
major catalog companies, resellers, VARs and distributors, including
StorageUSA.com, Newegg.com, Amazon.com, PC Connection, CDW, Buy.com,
Provantage.com, Insight, Ingram Micro, and Ma Labs.
Mar 26 - Barracuda Networks Warns
Consumers Against April Fool's Day Spam. Barracuda Networks,
leading provider of enterprise-class spam firewall solutions,
today warned consumers about the possible rise of spam messages
expected to hit inboxes over the next several days under the guise
of April Fool's Day jokes. Barracuda Networks also warns that
such messages may contain viruses or other malicious content that
could cripple the user's network.
"Spammers tend to use the weeks leading up to holidays such
as Christmas or Valentine's Day to their advantage because they
know that consumers are looking to make purchases during that
time, therefore messages offering 'great buys for the Holidays'
or 'sweet deals for your sweetheart' are more likely to catch
attention during that time," said Dean Drako, president and
CEO of Barracuda Networks. "With April Fool's Day, spammers
tend to be more creative knowing that consumers are not necessarily
looking to buy, so instead they try to intrigue victims into opening
messages by enticing their funny bone with the promise of a 'great
joke.' Ultimately, such messages are no laughing matter and can
result in lost productivity for businesses."
Barracuda Networks advises corporate IT personnel to be especially
vigilant this week for messages that may appear to be harmless,
and warns that the sheer quantity of these bogus messages could
flood the network if spam and virus filters are not up to date.
Some possible spam subject headers will likely include the words
or phrases "free jokes," "prank," "gag,"
"April," and "fool." Barracuda Networks suggests
that such words be included in the email subject and body filters
for the next several days in order to ensure these messages are
blocked. Additionally, Barracuda Networks plans to modify its
spam rules for all Barracuda Spam Firewall customers to prevent
potential April Fool's Day spam.
Barracuda Networks also points out several other ways in which
businesses and consumers can fight spam on April Fool's Day and
beyond, including: verify that emails were sent from a valid domain;
block IP addresses of known spammers and make sure that spam and
virus filters are updated with the most current definitions. Most
importantly, Barracuda Networks advises businesses to remind its
users to delete any messages they receive from email addresses
they do not recognize.
"One of the most important steps in fighting spam and other
malicious email is education," added Drako. "Although
most email users have heard this warning a hundred times before,
it only takes one person opening an attachment they don't recognize
to cripple the whole system. One quick reminder could make all
the difference."
About Barracuda Networks
Barracuda Networks is a privately held company with headquarters
in Cupertino, California. The company was founded on the premise
that spam is growing at an exponential rate and poses a tremendous
threat to every company's productivity, and the optimal answer
is a dedicated plug and play hardware solution. Barracuda Networks
provides an enterprise-class spam filter and virus protection
solution that has the ease-of-use and affordability that businesses
demand. More information is available at www.barracudanetworks.com.
Mar 26 - St. Bernard Software Tech
Advisory: Phatbot Trojan Horse. St. Bernard Software Inc.,
a global provider of security solutions that protect against data
loss, system threats, Internet abuse and unsolicited e-mail, today
advised users of its UpdateEXPERT(R) patch management and remediation
solution to verify that they have installed the appropriate Microsoft(R)
patches to counter the effects of the "Phatbot" Trojan
horse.
Information about this and other Microsoft patches was made available
to subscribers of St. Bernard Software's free, global opt-in e-mail
service, which alerts the public to the very latest Microsoft(R)
security patches and critical updates as they become available.
Instructions for the free
subscription to the opt-in "Patch Update" e-mail are
available.
St. Bernard Software also provides a Web page that allows subscribers
to view the status of the most recently announced patches added
to its UpdateEXPERT
patch management solution database.
MS03-001, MS03-007 and MS03-039 -- all released last year --
will prevent the hacker tool from disabling anti-virus and firewall
programs as well as link infected machines with others via "peer-to-peer"
file-sharing networks.
Many anti-virus programs classify Phatbot as a variant of the
"Agobot" or "Gaobot" Trojans. The hacker tool's
capabilities are numerous, and include the ability to extract
personal information, modify itself to elude anti-virus software
and mine workstations for e-mail addresses, allowing spammers
to add to their already large contact lists.
Mar 26 - Tumbleweed Announces Availability
of Email Authentication Engine to Stop Spoofing, Spam and Phishing.
Tumbleweed(R) Communications Corp. (Nasdaq:TMWD), a leading provider
of secure Internet messaging software and appliances for enterprises
and government agencies, today announced the immediate availability
of the Tumbleweed Email Authentication Engine. This next-generation
technology, which is integrated with the Tumbleweed Email Firewall,
both simplifies and automates the process for authenticating inbound
and outbound enterprise email.
While businesses increasingly rely upon email to communicate,
trust in email has eroded due to the growth of spam, email spoofing
and phishing, as well as a continuing string of email-borne viruses
and worms. Tumbleweed's new Email Authentication Engine restores
that confidence and trust by allowing recipient gateways and users
to transparently verify the source of an email message.
"Spam and phishing problems exist, to some extent, because
it is not possible to verify who sent an unsolicited message,"
said Jeff Smith, Chairman and CEO of Tumbleweed Communications.
"The Tumbleweed Email Authentication Engine adds a new dimension
to the fight against spoofed email, allowing enterprises to send
trusted outbound email to customers and verify inbound trusted
email from business partners. As a result, we can provide enterprises
with reduction in both the success of phishing attacks on their
brand and the likelihood of false positives in their spam filters."
Tumbleweed's first priority in releasing the Email Authentication
Engine was to support leading email authentication standards that
exist today, to provide immediate effectiveness in fighting spoofing,
spam and phishing. That is why this first release of the Email
Authentication Engine supports S/MIME, the de facto standard for
email security, enabling the signing and/or encryption of email
messages.
The Email Authentication Engine provides a turn-key approach
to email authentication that is easy and cost effective to manage.
Inbound and outbound S/MIME digital signature policies are automatically
applied at the gateway. No training of enterprise senders is required.
Unlike other anti-phishing solutions, digital certificates or
special software do not have to be issued to customers. And unlike
S/MIME desktop encryption, S/MIME digital signatures do not require
an implementation of public key infrastructure (PKI) and complex
digital certificate management.
"Multiple email authentication approaches have been proposed
to stop the problem of email 'spoofing,' spam, and phishing,"
said Matt Cain, Senior Vice President of META Group. "Through
the end of 2005, we expect to see increasing adoption of several
leading domain authentication approaches, with no clear winner.
These approaches include Microsoft's Caller-ID, the Sender Policy
Framework (SPF), and Yahoo! DomainKeys proposals. In the short
term, we anticipate that existing email sender authentication
standards such as S/MIME digital signatures will be implemented
on a unilateral basis to stem the flow of spam, diminish other
unsavory email practices, and give customers and partners proof
that enterprise email communications are valid."
Trusted Outbound Communication With S/MIME Digital Signatures
-- "SSL for Email"
The Email Authentication Engine allows enterprises to automatically
apply S/MIME digital signatures to select outbound email at the
gateway, based on policy. When recipients open a digitally signed
email, they see a ribbon or icon displayed by the email client,
indicating that the message has not been forged or spoofed. In
the same way that the padlock icon in a Web browser represents
a trusted SSL connection, the ribbon icon in an S/MIME-enabled
email client represents a trusted sender. In this way, S/MIME
digital signatures allow enterprises to provide positive proof
to customers and partners that email can be trusted.
For email sent with an invalid signature, an S/MIME-enabled email
client will notify the recipient with a warning message. This
means that spammers and phishers who attempt to digitally sign
spoofed email will have their messages flagged as invalid and
untrusted. S/MIME-enabled email clients include Microsoft Outlook,
Outlook Express, Lotus Notes, and Novell Groupwise.
"Our objective with this first release of the Tumbleweed
Email Authentication Engine was to combine S/MIME's unspoofable
cryptographic strengths with its simplicity and ubiquity to proactively
address spam and phishing," said Ken Beer, Director of Product
Management at Tumbleweed Communications. "With over 350 million
email clients natively supporting S/MIME digital signatures today,
it is clearly the right standard to leverage."
Trusted Inbound Business Email Using S/MIME Digital Signatures
Beyond providing trust for outbound customer email, the Email
Authentication Engine uses S/MIME digital signature validation
to authenticate inbound email from select business partners. By
configuring policies that only accept valid, digitally signed
email from specific business partner domains, enterprises can
ensure that business critical email from customers or partners
bypasses spam filters and does not get captured as false positives.
In this way, the Email Authentication Engine effectively provides
authenticated whitelisting functionality for the Tumbleweed Email
Firewall product or other downstream spam filters in the enterprise.
Moreover, businesses can now transparently authenticate each other's
email at the gateway, thereby reducing the need for traditional
content-based spam filtering of business email.
"Enterprises need a way to make sure email from critical
business partners gets delivered securely," said Joe Fisher,
Vice President of Product Marketing at Tumbleweed Communications.
"By providing an easy-to-deploy authentication solution for
inbound email based on S/MIME, our customers don't have to worry
about important emails getting quarantined or dropped."
About Tumbleweed's Email Authentication Engine
Tumbleweed's Email Authentication Engine validates the sender
of inbound and outbound email at the enterprise's Internet gateway,
using a variety of email authentication protocols. The Email Authentication
Engine plugs into Tumbleweed's Email Firewall to provide a robust
set of email authentication services integrated with a comprehensive
email security and hygiene capabilities.
The Email Authentication Engine provides a turn-key approach
to email authentication that is easy and cost effective to manage,
with inbound and outbound S/MIME digital signature policies automatically
applied at the gateway, and no training of enterprise senders
required. Unlike other anti-phishing solutions, digital certificates
or special software do not have to be issued to customers. And
unlike S/MIME desktop encryption, S/MIME digital signatures do
not require a complex PKI.
For additional information about Tumbleweed go to www.tumbleweed.com.
Mar 26 - Global Broadband Subscribers
Top 100 Million in 2003. Broadband subscribers exceeded 100
million globally at the end of 2003 according to RHK, Inc's latest
report from its Broadband Access Networks Program.
"Strong broadband subscriber growth in all regions during
2003 provides further evidence that consumers desire high-speed
access to the Internet" states Teresa Mastrangelo. "Additionally,
a highly competitive environment among broadband service providers
is benefiting consumers with attractive pricing and features."
This is particularly true in the Asia-Pacific market, which has
some of the highest broadband penetration in the world.
DSL continues to be the dominant technology in nearly two-thirds
of the global market. Cable Modem service continues to dominate
only the North American market, and in fact lost market share
to DSL and other broadband access technologies in the fourth quarter.
Visit www.rhk.com for more information.
Mar 25 - HP Drives Mobile Computing
Into New Terrain with Rugged Notebook and Tablet PCs. HP (NYSE:HPQ)
(Nasdaq:HPQ) today entered the rugged PC market with the introduction
of the HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 and the HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000.
Designed to withstand long-term vibration, rain, dust and extreme
operating temperatures, these mobile PCs are ideal tools for users
who often work in remote and demanding environments.
The products are backed by thousands of people in HP's global
services organization to help simplify and support customers'
IT needs. Through HP's rigorous compliance testing and proven
designs, the HP Rugged Notebook and the HP Rugged Tablet PC set
the industry standard in rugged reliability while delivering performance
and durability. These products comply with the standard military
specification for rugged (MIL-STD-810F) and offer an Ingress Protection
rating of IP54, which specifies the environmental protection a
device provides against liquids and solid objects, like rain and
dust.
"After listening to customers in industries such as the
public sector, government and law enforcement, we're responding
to their needs by bringing rugged, mobile solutions into the mainstream,"
said Ted Clark, vice president for notebook marketing, Personal
Systems Group, HP. "Field technicians, utility repair people,
police officers and firefighters are just a few of our customers
who need reliable, rugged mobile products that can withstand harsh
physical conditions while staying wirelessly connected."
The HP Rugged Notebook and Tablet PCs both offer excellent wireless
features, including high-performance simultaneous wireless wide
area network (WAN), local area network (LAN) and personal area
network (PAN). This gives mobile users more ways to stay connected
while operating in less than ideal field environments by operating
with three integrated radios (PAN, WLAN, WAN) simultaneously.
Additionally, HP rugged products provide an investment protected
wireless architecture. As a result customers can easily migrate
to wireless LAN and WAN technologies that best meet their business
needs without the need for expensive product re-work at a manufacturing
facility. When considering total cost of ownership, the HP rugged
mobile series devices are an ideal choice for wide deployment
of mobile users.
About the HP Rugged Notebook nr3600
At 7.9 pounds, the HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 is a balance of
performance, mobility, wireless features and versatility to meet
demanding needs in physically demanding environments. The product
offers field users an ergonomic design, productivity-enhancing
Outdoor Transmissive 12.1-inch display with (Passive) Touchscreen
and a versatile MediaBay drive. IT managers will value the large
portfolio of integrated wireless connectivity choices, including
software that allows for seamless roaming connectivity capabilities
for maximum flexibility to the mobile user.
The HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 delivers all the performance and
features of a full-function notebook. It includes: up to a 1.7-gigahertz
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 processor, up to one gigabyte of memory,
ATI Mobility Radeon graphics controller with 32-bit color rendering
and 3D graphics, built-in jacks for integrated fax/modem and Ethernet
connections, up to a three-year warranty on case parts, electrical
components and connectors and a Smart 6000 lithium-ion main battery
pack. It measures 2.36 inches thick.
The HP Rugged Notebook nr3600 can be ordered with a full range
of options and is available now for purchase through the Web at
www.hp.com starting at an estimated
U.S. list price of $4,099.
About the HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000
Designed to function just about anywhere, the HP Rugged Tablet
PC tr3000 is a lightweight, wireless, mobile Tablet PC designed
for users that work in demanding physical environments. The tr3000
offers performance and wireless connectivity and combines an Outdoor
Transmissive 8.4-inch touch screen, a full portfolio of security
options, and a wide breadth of integrated wireless connectivity
capabilities.
The HP Rugged Table PC tr3000 delivers all the performance and
features that users expect in a Tablet PC. The tr3000 includes
up to 933-megahertz ultra-low-voltage mobile Intel PIII processor,
support for up to 640 megabytes of low-voltage SDRAM, integrated
graphics capabilities including 3D rendering acceleration and
2D hardware acceleration, internal microphone and speaker, integrated
wireless, a Compact Flash slot for type I or II cards and built-in
jacks for integrated fax/modem and Ethernet and two USB 2.0 connectors
and weighs only 3.7 pounds and measures a mere 1.65 inches thick.
The HP Rugged Tablet PC tr3000 can be ordered with a full range
of options and is available now for purchase through the Web at
www.hp.com starting at an estimated
U.S. street price of $3,449.
Mar 25 - Fujitsu's Popular Thin-and-Light
S Series Notebook Gets Makeover Inside and Out. Fujitsu Computer
Systems today debuted the latest addition to its thin-and-light
LifeBook(R) S Series, the LifeBook S7000 notebook. The 4.3-pound
notebook now features a larger display, a faster Intel(R) Pentium(R)
M Processor and several other enhancements for improved performance,
functionality and security.
At first glance, the LifeBook S7000 notebook looks a lot like
its predecessor, the LifeBook S6000 notebook. The two notebooks
have a modular bay and are roughly the same size and weight. However,
that is where the similarities end. After opening the magnesium
alloy lid of LifeBook S7000 notebook, users will notice a larger
14.1-inch display, a new keyboard layout and an optional pointing
stick along with the standard touch pad.
Inside, the LifeBook S7000 notebook features a faster Intel(R)
Pentium(R) M Processor operating at 1.5 GHz and the enhanced Intel(R)
855GME chipset. Users can also outfit their notebook with the
updated Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 2200BG Network Connection. The new
Intel wireless solution completes the Intel(R) Centrino(R) package
and can operate in both 802.11b and 802.11g wireless environments.
Users can also choose models with an Atheros wireless module (802.11a+b/g)
or elect to configure without a wireless LAN solution.
Fujitsu has also kept the noteook's reassuring security features,
including a pre-boot security panel and built-in Smart Card reader.
For added security, users now have the option of a Trusted Platform
Module (TPM). TPM consists of a discrete silicon chip and software
interface that enables users to run applications, perform online
transactions and communicate in a secure environment.
Pricing for the Fujitsu LifeBook S7000 notebook starts at $1,599.
For more information, please see: www.fujitsu.com.
Mar 25 - ViewSonic's Latest Flat Panel
Displays Offer More for Less. ViewSonic(R) Corp., a worldwide
leader in visual display products, announced new additions to
its line of VE Series LCDs. The 15-inch VE510s and VE510b team
with the 17-inch VE710s and VE710b to offer a slim bezel design
improving the look of any workspace while minimizing the display's
footprint on the desktop.
Analysts predict LCD desktop monitor panel sales will rise to
67.9 million units in 2004(1). The VE Series displays aim to meet
the price and performance demands of government, education, corporate
and SoHo users.
"By combining stylish slim bezel design with great screen
performance, ViewSonic has raised the bar for an entry-level LCD,"
said Scott Elrich, senior product manager, ViewSonic. "The
VE Series offers the ultimate style and attractive price for budget-concerned
end users looking to switch from CRT to LCD technology."
Offering optimal resolutions of 1280x1024, 300 nits of brightness
and 450:1 typical contrast ratios, the VE710s and VE710b deliver
superior front-of-screen performance, while the VE510s and VE510b
provide budget-conscious consumers with a high performance LCD
featuring an optimal resolution of 1024x768, 250 nits
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