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Sounds like they just started leaking info on the new 9" version of the eepc - here. Looks like more or less the same form factor, bigger screen. We shall see on costs.

>7.5 > 7 ok..here we go - http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/03/asus-set-to-announce-9-inch-eee-pc-900/
Eee PC's 9 inch version.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/09/autodocker-to-make-boarding-and-deplaning-faster/

If [Asus's Eee PC] starts to do well [...]

What do you mean, "if"?

'If [Asus's Eee PC] starts to do well, we are all in trouble.'

For all the back and forth "we're better than you" rhetoric exchanged between the parties, the two really aren't that different. Both offer the same array of codecs and are driven by very similar power requirements. Essentially (and without intending any slight towards the HD DVD camp), anything an HD DVD player can do, a Blu-ray can do also.

Nuclear plants however are only available in the huge, bulky variation.

Kudos on an excellent post. I made this exact point to a friend of mine in 2006.

When there is a clear choice at the low-end and the high-end, the middle choice dies even if it is at a middle price point.

BluRay "losing" could have tilted things but it wasn't going to. They only sold 30K players in Japan for chrissakes!

See Microsoft HD Photo approved as Next JPEG Standard

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/02/microsofts-hd-photo-picked-to-succeed-jpeg/

Are you saying in the last 2 quarters iPhone sold more units than windows mobile?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/11/whats-an-iphone-14-3m-windows-mobile-phones-sold-in-the-past-s/

Nice try. Engadget says, "What's an iPhone? 14.3m Windows Mobile phones sold in the past six months alone," but you can read it for yourself:
Engadget: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/11/whats-an-iphone-14-3m-windows-mobile-phones-sold-in-the-past-s/
Source article: http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/12780/13804/microsoft-windows-mobile-phone-sales.phtml

apparently, that's exactly what it does. watch the video.

(note: i didn't have the sound on, so i'm not entirely sure of the context.)

Slideshow... boring; losing... consciousnesssssssssssssssss

Engadget also has a video they posted here.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/22/video-optimus-maximus-install-setup-configurator-and-use/

HOWEVER the video is currently broke. I'd expect them to have it fixed soon for your viewing pleasure.

Um, I think you could be wrong.

http://www.engadget.com/photos/optimus-maximus-at-long-last-we-bring-one-home/656819/

PAM USB auth.. Then you can take the smallest USB flashdrive you can find. Then build it into something fluffy and big.

A real picture can be found here: http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/02/project-epoc-thought-powered-controller-could-gaming-get-any-la/

sudo dd if=music of=mouse
Output:

There was not one Linux PC in the building. Same goes for just about any other computer store. If your lucky, there might be one or two in a corner. Linux is a build-to-order option from Dell, but Joe n00b won't choose that - he'll just take what's recommended. Right now, you have to actively seek out Linux if you want it; that's perfect for techs, but no use for n00bs.

So what? Macs have better success in desktop publishing than PCs, that doesn't change that fact that 90%+ of all computers are PCs.

Mini-disc became Mini-HD

And no one but Sony uses either of them.

Memory stick is still being used.

by Sony products. Face it, Sony has a poor track record for format introductions. Want some more examples?

DAT (digital audio tape)

"Universal" Media Disc (UMD)

Super Audio CD (SACD)

ATRAC

On voltages - the idea is that the processor passes a stability test with a set voltage and within a set thermal envelope. The highest clock speed at which they pass that test is how they're sold. Over-clockers who are willing to change voltage and deal with increased heat can get a processor to go faster (there are limits on that too, though). Some mobile processors have settings which adjust the clock settings, multiplier, and voltage simultaneously to reach a low power mode. My point is that in most cases, it's all or nothing in that you either are running at full speed on all cores, or at reduced speed everywhere. Some newer processors can do the cores independently, but for the most part, the speed has to be consistent core-to-core. And that down-adjustable clockspeed stuff is limited to mobile chips.

You're right that a lot of people are going to look at the "one processor disabled" and have qualms (which are probably unreasonable). And that might chase away some people. But I don't think it'll come up. Celerons sold well, and they were "disabled" Pentiums. Some Athlons were Opterons with fewer working HyperTransport links in a different package. Every mid-range GPU ever is a "disabled" version of the high-end one. There's even software to "softmod" some upper-mid-range chips to their full glory (apparently, this is now less common). While it's an issue for consumers, historically there's not a lot of evidence that it's a major one, and it's not one that a lot of people know about.

The conversation with the sales person probably won't even touch on the design of the processor. On the consumer side, the consumer and the Best Buy sales guy won't know anything about it, and on the business side, most companies will do enough research to rule it out as a major factor. The real issue is at the intersection where people have enough knowledge to have read the article, but not enough knowledge to recognize that this isn't unusual. This wouldn't stop me from buying a tri-core chip (the fact that Intel is beating the pants off AMD would, though) because I know better, and it wouldn't stop Joe Schmoe, because he'll have no idea about it.

The marketing logic is going to be "Faster than the comparably priced quadcore, more cores than the same price dualcore", and it might make some sales. Personally, I'm not convinced a 2.6 GHz AMD tri-core will beat a Q6600 (2.4 GHz Intel quadcore) in single-threaded benchmarks, so the issue is sort of moot. Pre-Penryn, Intel's chips were competitive with Phenom/Barcelona Opterons, and now Wolfdale/Yorktown/Harpertown are spanking them. In a closer processor preformance race, this would be an interesting idea, but the performance gap makes the tri-core hard to sell, except on the extreme low-end. The cheapest quad-core Yorkfield you can get (when it's out in a few weeks) will be $266 for a 2.5 GHz chip. There will be a 3.16 GHz dual-core at the same price, with a 3.0 GHz dual-core below $200 (source). To come in between them, you'd have to a 2.6-2.8 GHz tri-core between $225 and $250. That just doesn't make AMD money.

Finally, disclaimer: I am a college student in a Computer Architecture class who has read a bit about this sort of stuff. I am not an expert on this at all. I also own a Mac Pro, which is an Intel workstation.

Well, Lenovo just released this, which looks very nice to this road warrior...

Their guy with a scuba kit & a sharpened boat anchor didn't do the trick for them?

Yup, it's true--Microsoft is dying.

The question mark isn't even necessary: AT&T's CEO said in November that a 3G iPhone is coming in 2008.

Makes me wish for a job at Forbes though - I could predict such great things like Vista SP1 coming in march ;)

http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/20/keepin-it-real-fake-part-lx-iphone-clone-on-video/

And more on the way

It's easy enough to measure total power consumption of the system with an AC power meter. The original 90nm PS3 used 200W. The 65nm PS3 cut that down to 135W. We'll see how it goes with the 45nm.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/30/40gb-ps3-features-65nm-chips-lower-power-consumption/

I'm usually very pro Apple, but I'm not so sure of the Air in this situation.

How about this (and I realize I'm probably going beyond what the OP was looking for budget wise, but it might be a good solution):

Consider a Sony VAIO UX Micro PC. It weighs 1.2Lbs (a bit more with the large capacity battery which gives you the 3-7 hours of up-time) and should be able to be kept on you all the time.
It includes : 2 Built-in Cameras (front: 0.3M pixels and back: 1.3M pixels) Built-in microphone (for web-logs, or email home?), a biometric fingerprint scanner, and has a USB port (for dumping other data as you go?)
Sony lists Upgrade features as " 48GB Solid State Drive for faster performance, large capacity battery and Bluetooth® GPS receiver". Again, cost is a factor, but the solid state drive would extend battery life, the large capacity drive boost the uptime from 1.5-3.5 hours to 3-7 hours (I imagine use of the built in WiFi and Bluetooth is the killer), and a Bluetooth GPS receiver so you can use this handheld for mapping also.

It has a built in MemoryStick Duo slot for your "backups" According to NewEgg a Sony 128MB card is ~12$ and there are 256B and 512MB cards for ~18$. (FYI: 1GB are ~25$, 2GB are ~35$, 4GB are ~50$, and 8GB are ~100$)

Yeah, its not as much or as cheap as a DVD, but the MS Duo should be enough to back up the next great novel easily (or more depending on how much space you decide to purchase), it should cost as much to ship as a letter (dont forget a ziplock baggy or some static bags to slip them into when you ship them off) and I would imagine you'd be able to replenish as you travel (tourism being what it is).

Another choice might be the Same idea as the Sony Vaio, but in a laptop (versus handtop) form-factor. ~2 lbs, 2xUSB ports a PCMCIA slot, 10.4" screen, 802.11a/b/g 8 hour battery and a built in SD slot for flash-memory (for backup in place of the required DVD drive).
NewEggs prices on SD memory are: 1GB ~5$-30$, 2GB ~9$-38$, 4GB ~18$-60$ (the wide variance is due to different classes of product, and deep competition in the marketplace I assume). Take the same precautions as above of bringing a whole mess with you, and shipping them home in a baggy and a sturdy envelope (maybe a bit of cardboard) and they'll probably pay for themselves over CDs in terms of survivability and shipping charges. They also have an even higher likelyhood of worldwide availability since so many electronic devices use them.

Also consider getting one of these: Laptop Solar Panels. It will run more than most people want (heck, the "Economy" model is $600, but if you're going to be sitting in the remote locations you mentioned, then you might want to be able to power your electrical equipment (including whatever laptop you end up bringing. The other downside (besides the price), is that it is an additional 15lbs (10 for the panels, 5 for the power center), so unless you NEED power, you might not want to bother.

While it's extremely annoying on the iPhone, that's not how it is on the iPod Touch. There's a nice photo on Engadget of it

Engadget report here: http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/iphone-takes-on-semi-lives-to-tell-the-tale/

One iPhone, gets left out... and flattened by a Semi tractor trailer. Took a lickin', kept on tickin'.

I think this is also an attempt to get people to secure their wifi routers so their neighbors can't get on-line for free.

I know my neighbor would be wondering how they downloaded 25 GB (LotR HD) last month...

It would be time for a new non-centralized wireless internet that didn't require ISPs to be created at that point. Create a mesh network kind of like bit torrent, but all hardware based and plug-n-play ease.
http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/04/researchers-tout-co-op-system-for-ubiquitous-wifi

Talking of cellphone triangulation, one could get a much higher sample size by just averaging the movement of the vast sea of mobile phones driving down the road. Almost 100% road coverage without needing shed loads of people to have a GPS enabled phone and the appropriate software.

In fact, Google says that Missouri is one step ahead of me:
http://www.engadget.com/2005/10/11/missouri-to-use-cellphone-signals-to-monitor-traffic/

... already has it, the UK and Germany to follow.

Wish those other countries could also follow up with Coffee Shops.

CC.

I would guess that the added cost of creating a standard for doing this, putting the connectors in for this (versus soldering everything in) would make it not cost effective.

A Dell laptop can be found for $400-$500 entry level. If They are going to add the ability to put in a better video card, then they also need to allow for upgradeable power circuits (or do that from the beginning) to carry the draw of whatever video card you may put in. This would include the brick and any circuits on the mobo that may not be designed to carry such a load.

Then you have to account for the additional heat. So you either need to allow the user to upgrade the fans, or have the ability to cool the laptop for the hottest video card from the get go.

So how much more will that Dell cost to allow for all that? Would it be worth it to be able to upgrade, when in 6 months you are likely better off just buying a new laptop to get faster/bigger HDD, better LCD, faster CPU/RAM too? Would you have been better off just buying a laptop with a decent video card to begin with (at 2X the cost?)

If anything, I'd like to see a standard output jack that would allow me to plug in an external video card. I'd like a multimedia laptop ($1000 range) with a power saving video card built in, but a jack to allow me to game when I am at home.

http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/28/ati-to-release-power-hungry-external-video-card/
http://www.everythingusb.com/iogear_usb_2.0_external_video_card_12787.html

To be fair, a quick follow of the link to WGA could lead you to think you meant this:

http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/04/vista-sp1-kills-the-wga-kill-switch/

Which can very well be considered a legitimate feature of SP1.

Uh, no. HD-DVD mandates Managed Copy, completely cutting your argument to shreds.

So, if Blu-Ray supported Managed Copy, then your arguments would be completely cut to shreds? Note, Sony currently uses Managed Copy to distribute Blu-Ray movies from the PS3 to the PSP (or at least, that was the way I understood it).

Why we are having this discussion I am a little bit unsure of though. Toshiba has tried for two years to release a consumer or prosumer level burner, and have so far failed. You simply can't buy an HD DVD burner today, and I am willing to bet that you never will. This one is their latest attempt, and it simply didn't work according to testers.

Maybe you should read something other than slashdot........

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/xbox-goes-profitable-almost-like-a-grown-up-business/

Don't player hate.....
Congratulate!

Like more time for companies to scan their products before shipping them out with a virus preloaded?? That'd be sweeeeeet! http://portableaudio.engadget.com/2006/10/16/mcdonalds-mp3-players-ship-with-trojan-horse/

Would you like to read the contents of (insert media player here)? Cancel or Allow?

Oh no, we suck again!

most people have learned to tune the ads out.

The thing is that advertisers wont sit back and accept that - if people aren't looking then they will try and force more obtrusive advertising. It is easier to reject the model now than rely on distributors/developers integrity in the future.

Remember some of the lengths advertisers have tried to go to: Tivo banner ads that show when fast forwarding and unskippable ad patent for example.

It seems to be over at Engadget

However, I'ver looked up this strange word 'sommeliers' and can't for the life of me, work out what cell phones and wine waiters have in common ?

-Jar

Am I missing something here, or is this just copied directly from Engadget? You'd think they could at least provide the link to the original story...
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/21/japan-toying-with-idea-of-cellphone-sommeliers/

Contrary to my siblings, I think the article that was quoted in the summary can be found at Engadget

Not yet it isn't.

This is exactly what is happening now. Inflation was created by Greenspan to help investment. All that malinvestment in housing is what is coming back to bite the economy now.

Ask yourself this question - if inflation can help investment, why not inflate a lot and inflate all the time. Wouldn't that help growth all the time?

They are not competing currencies because one cannot demand to be paid in those currencies. By law, you have to accept the Fed note as a legal payment.

Cleantech is currently building out an 80MW plant out in California: http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/09/california-to-get-worlds-largest-solar-farm/

Solar is going to be huge shortly, as we're figuring out how to make the panels cheaper and more durable (although, not much more efficient then the older models). Plus, in the US at least, we have a whole hell of a lot of land in the desert to put said panels.