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Never mind the troubles with rootkits, exploding batteries and PS3 delays, you can always rely on...err, oops maybe not http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/09/04/sony_erics son_p990i_review/

Yes, and before that they had probably dropping really, really slowly down to $200 for quite some time as processor prices has been stagnant for the last 1-2 years. People who bought these processors just when prices stagnated have had them almost "for free" until a few weeks ago. People who bought them a few weeks ago have already seen the price of their new processor cut to half.

You can also pull data like that off of pricescan.com for individual parts (but not overall). For example, the Athlon64 X2 3800+ was ~$350 in Oct 2005 and only dropped to ~$300 by Jun 2005. The X2 4200+ started around $500 in Aug 2005 and was only down to $400 by Jun 2005.

Which was a bit annoying from the consumer-side, because the prices never dropped like we hoped they would after the initial rollout. (Heck, we still haven't seen price breaks on the Opteron lines. And I think those are now overpriced compared to the Intel Core 2 Duo chips.)

Still, I've heard rumors that there's another round of price breaks coming from AMD within a few months (October). But that only seems to be on the Turion mobile chips and the low-end Sempron chips.

A price of $80 for the X2 3800+ would be nice after all this waiting... the $150 price is pretty good, but more is always nicer.

- http://www.madshrimps.be/gotoartik.php?articID=482
- http://www.hothardware.com/viewarticle.aspx?articl eid=861&cid=1
- http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=6538
- http://www.mvktech.net/content/view/3357/48/
- http://pcper.com/article.php?aid=287
- http://uk.theinquirer.net/?article=33872
- http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/23/review_ati _radeon_x1950_xtx/
- http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ATI/X1950XTX
- http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=954
- http://techreport.com/reviews/2006q3/radeon-x1950x tx/index.x?pg=1
- http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2007324 ,00.asp
- http://www.tgdaily.com/2006/08/23/ati_releases_rad eon_x1950/
- http://www.guru3d.com/article/Videocards/375/
- http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/131
- http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles/view.php?id=2 020&cid=3&pg=1
- http://www.firingsquad.com/hardware/ati_radeon_x19 50_xtx_performance/
- http://www.driverheaven.net/reviews/X1950XTXreview /

up to date list: http://www.madshrimps.be/forums/showthread.php?s=& threadid=26526

Get your news here, first:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/22/sony_ps3_n on-production/

They are really pushing out the boat, don't get a PS3 have a girly PS2 instead!

Or you can use the new plextor eraser:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/08/03/plextor_pr eps_plexeraser/

It will probably take care of the scratches but retrieving any data that
was on it will probably be rather difficult.

Buy it here and I'll earn a 1% commission!

... More importantly, they're doing a battery recall for many MacBook Pros.

Mine is one that's affected. Apparently, a new one will arrive in the post in a few days, and I need to send the old one back to them. There's not meant to be any safety issues, but still...

I won't bother with price comparisons as they're handled elsewhere and always have mitigating factors, but Dell has worse QC problems. Two very public laptop fires in the span of a month sure doesn't inspire me with confidence.

The release of Zune will be big. Its uptake is entirely different.

And if you're a Windows user, I doubt you see the irony of calling Mac users masochists.

Before this deal, AMD had about $3bn in cash. The Register says that Morgan Stanley will loan AMD about $2.5bn to get the deal done. This will leave AMD with no spare cash to fight the long war against the onslaught of Intel Core processors and upcoming quad-core Xeons - due this year. Disclosure - I just picked up 600 Intel shares at $17.50.

As much as I like AMD, I have to say that if Intel and nVidia teamed up they would probably beat the crap out of AMD + ATi.

People say that, but I have to wonder what Intel has to gain. I mean, they're already the biggest player in the graphics industry when it comes to market-share, so they clearly have the know-how to build graphics chips. Sure, they don't currently go after the enthusiast market, but there might be reasons for that:
1. Lower margins - Nvidia's gross margin is under 40%, and Intel's is close to 60%.
2. Huge time-to-market pressures. Right now, Intel and AMD ship products every few years, and make sure they work pretty well before shipping them. On the other hand, anyone who's bought bleeding-edge video cards know that they're buggy as hell until you get drivers that work around the problems because the companies don't really care whether the product works any longer than required to survive through the standard benchmarks.

In my defense, The Register had this article today about "Intel 'Tulsa' 65nm Xeon MPs to ship 27 August?". I thought those were the 5100's, and didn't realize they were 7100's.

On The Register's hardware page there is a review of a valve amplifier for the iPod. I checked out the valve number and apparently, to those of us who grew up with Mullard (later Philips) numbers, it's an ECC88. That makes it a double triode.

So how are they running three speakers from it? Assuming the valve is not just for show ..... I suppose they could be inverting the phase to one channel using a transformer, re-inverting it at the speaker by reversing the connections and bridging the subwoofer between the two channels to give a "sum" signal. AMI stereo juke boxes used that sort of wiring scheme {except they didn't need a transformer at the input, since the left and right coils of the pickup are electrically separate: four wires, not three}. AMI and Rockola were using valves long after Wurlitzer and Seeburg had switched to transistors.

I personally think digital sources and valves don't play well together anyway: they make the digital artefacts sound worse. Tried it, didn't like it, back to trannies -- at least they disguise the "digitalness".

And the ready-made amplifier module this guy used is just completely cheating! At least he could have done something like bridge together a pair of TDA2030s for each channel {they're just op-amps, except these ones will source or sink an ampere or so without batting an eyelid} and used yet another 2030 to make a self-resonant switch-mode supply for the iPod.

On The Register's hardware page there is a review of a valve amplifier for the iPod. I checked out the valve number and apparently, to those of us who grew up with Mullard (later Philips) numbers, it's an ECC88. That makes it a double triode.

So how are they running three speakers from it? Assuming the valve is not just for show ..... I suppose they could be inverting the phase to one channel using a transformer, re-inverting it at the speaker by reversing the connections and bridging the subwoofer between the two channels to give a "sum" signal. AMI stereo juke boxes used that sort of wiring scheme {except they didn't need a transformer at the input, since the left and right coils of the pickup are electrically separate: four wires, not three}. AMI and Rockola were using valves long after Wurlitzer and Seeburg had switched to transistors.

I personally think digital sources and valves don't play well together anyway: they make the digital artefacts sound worse. Tried it, didn't like it, back to trannies -- at least they disguise the "digitalness".

And the ready-made amplifier module this guy used is just completely cheating! At least he could have done something like bridge together a pair of TDA2030s for each channel {they're just op-amps, except these ones will source or sink an ampere or so without batting an eyelid} and used yet another 2030 to make a self-resonant switch-mode supply for the iPod.

Well, I meant more the size and the functionality it offers - it's the best thing for the job that exists. I can only hope it'll get cooler and faster, and that the batteries will last a bit longer, in the next version, which rumour has it might use AMD processors.

Cant really say too much about the job, I'm afraid, it's an application that's at an early prototype stage, but read the posts I've made here and use your imagination (and you'll be miles off...).

Conclusion page at the register. http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/23/review_amd _am2_athlon_64_fx-62/page7.html

Verdict

These are all some pretty impressive numbers, but bear in mind that we tested the AM2 platform with the FX-62 - other AM2 processors won't show any big improvements over their Socket 939 counterparts. It's a real shame that AMD didn't manage to squeeze some more performance out of the new CPUs, but this will hopefully come with time. For now, the AM2 processors aren't worth the investment if you have a Socket 939 system, unless you want the fastest CPU out there, the FX-62. However, this might not be the case for long if the Core 2 Duo lives up to Intel's hype.

-- Look out: attributed block cut/paste;)

NVidia was talking about the NForce 5 chipsets ages ago, and I believe they were holding off for AM2. I'm pretty sure that we'll see new chipsets pretty soon.

According to The Register, that will be later today http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/23/review_amd _am2_athlon_64_fx-62/

*snort*

Not bad! I think for extra points you should have bought up speculation that Apple closed the OS X kernel to ease the future transition to the Vista kernel.

And of course, no modern anti-apple troll should be complete without reference to Apple's 'betrayel' of PA semi

The HTC Star Trek might be the phone you mean?
If it is, according to The Register, May 10th.

Assuming also that you're on this side of the pond =/

"With great respect to the trial judge, we consider he has reached the wrong conclusion. We felt that during the course of the trial we clearly demonstrated just how extensively Apple Computer had broken the agreement. We will accordingly be filing an appeal."

Looks like Apple Corp. is appealing the decision! You think Apple Corp. would know their limitations. See here http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/08/apple_to_a ppeal_verdict/

Um, what was that about AMD products being superioir because they don't overheat:

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/28/amd_optero n_fpu_bug/

Riiiight.

You should get a skype phone :)

Yes! http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/19/philips_en forced_ads_patent/

From what I've read, Apple Corp's lawyers have more or less conceded that Apple Computer is allowed to run the iTMS and sell iPods, making their case that usage of an apple *logo* in the iTMS is the breach of trademark. Apple Computer is maintaining that their logo is unique, different enough from the Apple Corps logo to avoid confusion between the two companies. Apple is also using the "container, not content" argument. In theory Apple could have avoided this lawsuit by making the iTMS an owned subsidiary like Filemaker, but that would have cost them the "halo effect" they wanted.

The Register has a better summary, pointing out that the biggest difference is Apple Corps' "spirit of the agreement" versus Apple Computer's "letter of the agreement".

My favourite technique for defeating copy-prevention is to get the RGB signals from the tube grid drives, and regenerate the timing data from the scan coil drives. With just some elementary signal conditioning {a few resistors, capacitors and op-amps which will fit easily on a small piece of copper strip breadboard} you can derive a signal set ready to feed into any fully-wired SCART input.

Unfortunately for those who would exercise their Statutory Right of Fair Dealing in this way, modern TV sets so far have tended to be based on LCD or plasma technology. But now, Samsung have released a HDTV which uses a cathode ray tube: see this review on The Register's hardware site.

Also, it should not be forgotten that the people in the labs -- ordinary people who enjoy a good movie as much as the next person -- know exactly how to defeat copy prevention technology {which is a mathematical impossibility anyway}. It's true what they say: What do you call someone who knows just as much as an engineer, works just as hard as an engineer and gets paid less than an engineer? A technician.

I suppose because the 8707v (Vodafone) is being released in Britain that's implied already. But "3G" isn't a single technology, and in fact the BlackBerry 7130e - which has been commercially available in Canada, the US, and Australia for a while - uses the CDMA2000 standard (with 1xEV-DO technology), which is also considered 3G.

So this isn't the "first 3G Blackberry". It is however, the first UMTS BlackBerry, which would make it the first BlackBerry to support 3G in the UK (and other places).

Also saying "no EDGE so the US will have to carry on waiting" sort of neglects the fact the the 8700c (Cingular) available in the US and the 8700r (Rogers) available in Canada do in fact have EDGE - they just don't have the same "integrated 3G data modem".

Along with new stuff for gaming, it appears Dell will sell a massively overclocked (4.26GHz) Pentium D version of the XPS 600.

Err, I mean $9930 PC.

it's not an 'ATI killer', from a similar article I read yesterday on El Reg (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/20/nvidia_ha vok_gpu_physics/):

"Havok FX ties leverages the GPU using Shader Model 3.0 rendering instructions, so it's as applicable to ATI's latest GPUs as it is to Nvidia's, of course. That didn't stop Nvidia saying how well the code works on its GeForce 6- and 7-series GPUs, even in SLI mode."

It isnt an SLI only thing really, but SLI would work better, it's like sticking another processor in your machine (albeit for most specialised use - though there's no reason you couldnt write wrappers for dlls in windows, and have some calculations passed to your GPU instead of CPU, I think that would be really cool, and a better use of the latest graphics cards to speed up general application running for when you're not playing 3D games)

> If there were good eSATA laptops, it'd be a contender. But, there aren't.

Just a matter of time. "tick, tock"

Well, a lot of people don't seem to be taking that as quite so black-and-white. On The Register, their interpretation is that the PS3 will probably ship with cheaper no-harddrive version for those that just want basic console gameplay, and a more expensive premium version with harddrive. Considering the cost figures floating around, that would make a lot of sense, and they did state the harddrive would be upgradeable, so it's not hard to do the two versions.

it'd be nice if there were stuff besides graphics-adapters to push in.

How about a twin tuner DVB TV card?

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/27/review_ter ratec_cinergy_2400i_dt/

Indeed it is. Amazing so more haven't spotted the flash vid yet. (Now taken down btw)

1. Gates offered the ranch to Steve Jobs to make his Mac OSX x86 branch go
away

2. Jobs reacted swiftly and arranged a shutdown of the OSx86 community
website :
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/17/osx86_proj ect_dmca_claim/

3. Gates installed Mac OSX x86 10.4.3 on a couple of Intel PC's and got
white behind the nose and did have liquid diareee for 3 days.

4. Mac OSX x86 10.4.3 on a AMD64 runs so blinding fast that all iMAC gear
and faster is smacked into the corner.

5. Vista's DRM and total surveillance hookups are demanded by US and UK
government. Stevie Jobs Mac OSX x86 10.4.3 doesn't have this onboard
currently.

6 if it turns out that Stevie Jobs, after dealing with Gates, used that
DMCA violation claim as cover to shutdown the OSx86 Project forum,
www.win2osx.net, Jobs might not be able to make any keynote speech for a
long time to come. It seems Jobs is nowadays mostly doing hollywood pixar
business.

7. Jobs and Gates supposedly made some dealings , which forsee the future
of the coming years... Vista as i have seen it, is a rather weak offering,
which seems to be trunkloaded with life and active DRM under the hood.

8. well no kidding here... THIS is the real news of this week and the
coming weeks..... they might orchestrate a hunting accident to smooth
things out, but be sure to be prepared for some major bullcrap, which will
ignite many people to hunt and search for a last working iso of Mac OSX
x86

9. Mac OSX x86 is so f..king good and fast, it would have killed both
linux _AND_ Vista. Muchos Kudos for this goto the community crowd of OSx86
with its forum on www.win2osx.net.

10. a friend has a working iso, and his jaws dropped through his keyboard,
after installing it on a P4 2.4GHz compaq deskpro. Its blinding fast and
polished. He had to debug a downloaded install iso of Mac OSX x86 10.4.x ,
and did 3 installs within 50 minutes on that compaq deskpro

Robert

You mean like this?

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/16/review_log itech_wms_ipod/

This is why we shouldn't have a monopoly on operating systems, yet why it is "almost" state sponsored (local UK government is in bed with MS). All I want is Vista's External Memory Device (EMD) technology or similar in Linux and better game support (don't we all?) Incidentally the UK gov has declared its biometric ID card project will go ahead, albeit optional, unless you need a passport or renew. When take up is large enough it'll made compulsory, then I can see 20 years from now ID cards are implanted for convenience, when takeup is large enough it'll be compulsory. I won't be chipped like a pet dog. That on top of our country having a huge number of CCTV cameras recently installed and plans to track every car in the country.... Democracies and dictatorships are becoming very similar.

did people really expect Sony to go to a trade show and, what, not mention the PS3 at all?

The Register doesn't.

It's tempting to hope next week will see the first reports from gamers who've got their hands on the highly anticipated console, but we suspect Sony will hold back until next May's E3. Taiwan is unlikely to be a focus market for the PS3's launch, not like the US, Europe and Japan. Even Microsoft's Xbox 360 has yet to launch there - it's currently scheduled for a March 16 debut after the software giant was forced to delay the console's release because of "supply constraints".

This article from the register show's how the new Intel Macs are only 1/4 faster (rather then 2-4 times faster as Jobs claimed) then their powerpc equivilants.

Full report here. Ouch! Iphoto is actually slower for some operations.

Slightly more ontopic - I've been reading that the mere presence of the fat binaried itunes on a powerpc mac can cause the disk utility not to run - stripping intel code from the binary fixes the problem.