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An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for over 100,000 Toshiba laptop battery packs after several serious reports. Toshiba, which says it shipped the affected battery module in 39 models of Toshiba Protege, Satellite, Tecra between mid-2011 and early 2016, urges users to check the model number of the battery on their laptop. Defective battery packs have part numbers beginning with G71C (G71C*******). The company has also issued battery replacement instructions for the recall, as well as made available a tool which will help you determine if your battery is part of the recall.

An anonymous reader writes: The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a recall for over 100,000 Toshiba laptop battery packs after several serious reports. Toshiba, which says it shipped the affected battery module in 39 models of Toshiba Protege, Satellite, Tecra between mid-2011 and early 2016, urges users to check the model number of the battery on their laptop. Defective battery packs have part numbers beginning with G71C (G71C*******). The company has also issued battery replacement instructions for the recall, as well as made available a tool which will help you determine if your battery is part of the recall.

For years, adoption of 3-D display moneygrubbing headache porn technology has been hampered by the cumbersome viewing glasses needed to properly perceive the video movie spacetimes porn , not to mention the loss in market share of people who have suffered the injury or loss of one of their eyes legs minds porns . Now, Toshiba has laid those concerns to rest with the creation of the world's first 3-D monocle, dubbed the "Spectacle." "Two triangular polarizing lenses were melded in parallel and encased in black-plated tungsten carbide for a lightweight and durable enbuildification construction balsa porn ." The elegant, minimalist design leaves your second eye free for other tasks rolls REM porn .

kwiens writes "We had such a positive response from Slashdot with our Free-As-In-Beer Mac disassembly instructions last time around, we decided to do it again: We've made six more FixIt Guides, perfect for those intrepid road-warriors who refuse to trust anyone else to work on their 'Book. Now there's nothing stopping you from trying that LNO2 overclock on your PowerBook-- or just a hard drive upgrade. The new Guides have professional photos, a new GUI design, and screw guides (no, not this). Guides are now available for all iBook G3, PowerBook G3, and PowerBook G4 models (including the oft-requested 12, 15, and 17 Aluminum 'Books)."

nic barajas asks: "I'm going to be attending college this fall, so I have been looking into a computer to use on campus. My preference has been to looking at the Tablet PC, although they are still in their proverbial infancy. I have been looking at a multitude of vendors, including Sager, Acer, and Toshiba. I'm looking for something that has a sizeable screen (at least 12"), decent storage (40GB+), and a long battery life. What are some of the better models on the market with these characteristics?"

securitas writes "PC World/ IDG reports on the new Toshiba SoftIPT SoftPhone software that turns Windows XP-based computers into VoIP telephones. The software features call answering and forwarding, voice mail retrieval and conference calling and costs $200. Now if only Toshiba managed to come up with a version of the software that runs on 802.11 WiFi handhelds like the e800/e805 ... More details in the press release."

securitas writes "The New York Times Technology has an excellent feature by Ken Belson about the coming battle over the next-generation DVD format that consumer electronics and technology giants are already preparing for. The article covers the (high-definition) HD DVD group, led by Toshiba and NEC, and the Blu-ray Group, led by Sony and Matsushita (Panasonic/JVC). Mass production is expected to begin in 2005, but both sides are expected to show prototypes and aggresively pursue partners at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week. Add to the mix a nine-company Chinese faction that says it will develop its own DVD format because - fearing their technology could be used by Chinese rivals - the Japanese manufacturers haven't shared much information, even within the DVD Forum. Finally, Disney, Microsoft, IBM and Intel have yet to weigh in. The worst thing that could happen would be another Betamax/VHS-type war. In that case, 'Everyone is a loser, particularly Hollywood studios, the retailer community and, most importantly, the consumer,' says Warren N. Lieberfarb, developer of the original DVD format."

onebuttonmouse writes "Toshiba have set a new record for the world's smallest hard disk at a tiny 0.85". Surely this will have some great applications in mobile devices, although the article does not mention power consumption. It'd be great if this made it into the iPod like the 1.5" Toshiba drive that resides in the current models."

securitas writes "The New York Times is carrying a Reuters story about Linux as the software of choice for consumer electronics. At the world's largest consumer electronics show, the IFA trade fair 'the first Linux products are already on show and more will come soon, companies said.' The reason? Linux is freely available, widely embraced and profit margins in the consumer electronics business are one or two percent at best. The math is simple. The industry push comes from the members of the Consumer Electronics Linux Forum (CELF), that includes Sony, Philips, Matsushita/Panasonic, Hitachi, Sharp, Samsung, NEC, IBM, LG, Thomson/RCA and Toshiba. The CELF was previously discussed on Slashdot. Mirrors at Silicon.com and CNet News."

arashiakari asks: "I have to buy a new laptop soon and I am having trouble settling on a brand or model except one that I cannot use. Apple's iBook laptop is beautiful, functional, lightweight, and made of high quality materials. I would buy one today except that I am a professional programmer and MUST use the same platform my compiler targets: Intel. So far each Intel-based laptop I have looked at is both grossly over-decorated (Compaq, Toshiba) and made of cheap flimsy materials (Dell), or has the combined problem of being overpriced and under-powered - with external bays for everything (Sony). IBM is expensive, but they are as close as I've found to "right" ... with Toshiba in second place. It seems like Intel-based laptops are either hot ugly tanks or oversized PDAs, there seems to be a scarcity of balanced well-thought-out and produced machines. Does the Slashdot have any suggestions?"

George Wright writes "Toshiba have announced a monster of a laptop with their Satellite P25. Seems they've decided to copy Apple's idea of fitting a 17" LCD on a laptop, but have ended making a true aircraft carrier in doing so. Notable "features" are the 2.8GHz P4, the 802.11a/b and the 10lb weight (!!!). Still a relatively low resolution though :("

In the interest in preserving your clicking finger, we've rounded up several related Ask Slashdot questions into one, for your browsing pleasure. Today's installment features a return to wireless apartment complexes, enclosures for outdoor wireless equipment, and the search for the Best Wireless PDA.

Which 802.11b-enabled PDA?

Kent Brewster asks: "I've retired my Palm 7 due to sudden lack of all-you-can-eat service and lots of free WiFi in the area. Right now, I'm looking at HP's iPAQ h5455, Toshiba's e750, Palm's Tungsten C, and Sharp's as-yet-to-ship Zaurus 5600. What I'm after is the best possible mobile Web experience first and PDA functions second. Opinions, please?"

802.11b Issues for Apartment Complexes? (Revisited)

johaninroseville asks: "I am in the planning stages to build a wireless network to provide an apartment complex with last mile Internet access. There are about six hundred units, but only one to two hundred interested people. For those curious as to the general layout of the apartments, here is an overhead picture.

My experience with radio frequencies, antennas, and especially how well radio waves can penetrate walls etc is rather limited. My game plan is to get a feed into the POP / MDF, and have a rather strong omni antenna mounted on the roof of that building. The coverage of that omni antenna will provide the links to the seven APs that will probably be needed, mounted on the rooftops around the complex. The seven IDFs, (or APs or what ever you want to call them) will each have a Point-to Point connection to the big omni antenna. Hardware used for the seven IDFs is planned to be: directional antenna (for link to omni in POP) connected to bridge, bridge connected to AP, AP connected to a sectored panel antenna that will provide end-user access (to their PCMCIA/PCI/CF/USB Cards, or to their access point).

My biggest questions are what antennas to use? What strength? How well can the radio waves from an omni antenna and/or a sector antenna penetrate multiple walls, if at all? How far can one of these antennas cover, and then penetrate walls?

I would appreciate any help at all in this matter. Maybe somebody has done something similar, or have some useful links."

Ask Slashdot last covered wireless apartment complexes about a year ago, and it would be interesting to note if any of the new technologies, introduced in the interim, will make this job any easier.

Outdoor Enclosures for 802.11b Equipment?

And finally, this question from ETEQ: "I need to operate a small amount of networking and wireless equipment (Router, Cable Modem, and 802.11 access point) in an outdoor setting, but the problem is that I live in Minnesota, where temperatures can drop far below freezing and stay that way for weeks (not to mention frequent heavy snow)... Are there any outdoor enclosures that can be purchased on a Home or SOHO budget?"

The Infamous Grimace writes: "The folks at this Japanese web site have provided pics of the inside of an iPod. A quick breakdown of it in English is here. The FireWire contoller appears to be TIs TSB43AA82, the chip is PortalPlayers PP5002B w/ an ARM7TDMI-based core. Apparently it has encoding abilities as well. The hard-drive is Toshiba's MK5002MAL."

The Conkman writes "In a press release released today, Japan-based companies Toshiba and Matsushita announced their partnership with California-based Sandisk in the manufacturing of a new flash memory chip for portable mp3 players. The release states that the flash memory chip ( approx. the size of a postage stamp ) is anticipated to have an initial size of 32MB to 64MB and a data throughput of 2Mbs per second working towards a goal of a 256MB chip with a data throughput of 10Mbs per second. The mass production of the chip ( and the player I assume ) is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of next year. "

Anon Y Mouse writes "Click here for the press release." Toshibia has gone ahead with their plans and certified the entire Magnia line of servers, for use with Red Hat Linux, according to the press release.

Dag Brattli, the lead developer on the Linux/IrDA team has written "I Just got a mail today which says that Toshiba will not disclose any information regarding chips inside their laptops. This is a final answer (its been decided as high up as it gets) so there is nothing more we can do and we just have to accept it. I will strongly recommend that Linux users don't buy any Toshiba Equipment! " Click below to read the rest of Dag's email and see what you can do to help..

We could (and should) let them know how many of us will not be buying Toshiba laptops because of this. Here is an online form for any of you who have a Toshiba Sales Questions. I sure do! As the owner of a Tecra laptop that won't work with Linux/IrDA now, I'm quite upset by this development. Here is the rest of the post that Dag made to the Linux/IrDA mailing list:

Since it's impossible to write device drivers for their products, they will never get the same Linux support as with other laptops. Toshiba are free to choose whichever policy they like (and we should respect that), but then we have no other choice but to not buy their products. Toshiba does not want to support Linux, so they should also respect that we are forced to recommend Linux users not to buy their products.

-- Dag

Toshiba has begun offering DVD-RAM drives on their machines, if customers can wait about 30 days. The drive can hold 2.6GB/side, and discs will cost about $45.