Solar Power Your Laptop?
What a good idea I thought, a solution to the shortcomings of conventional batteries, and green too. Well maybe, but not yet.
Micro-Star International (MSI) exhibited a notebook computer which has solar-cells embedded in the lid, so even when closed it is still gathering solar rays and converting them to recharge the battery. Unfortunately the product is only experimental and there are no plans to sell them yet. Why?
Well the problem is the cost of solar cells, currently the cost for a solar-powered unit would be 2-3 times that of a conventional machine, but development is continuing, so there may be something affordable down the line.
Initially the research was to find a way of powering laptops in remote areas, and reminds me of the project in a post earlier 'The Green Machine' - the UN project for $100 portable computers to enable poorer people, in remote areas, to access Internet technology. These machines are powered up by a crank. However the vision of busy executives cranking their notebooks isn't somehow very elegant, so solar-power is a possibility, as is nano-technology which will eventually produce batteries with 3 times the storage capacity of conventional lithium-ion, but again, this is not estimated to be available for over 3 years.
It's surprising that battery technology can't keep up with the increasing resource usage of increasingly powerful machines, and larger screens. Despite the efforts of large research companies and innovative inventors, the solution to an adequate, and affordable, solution to portable power seems to be years off.
It's always the same isn't it? No matter the huge advances in technology, we want the future now, but the future never comes. Just have to be patient.
I Love My WiFi
I'm way behind the times, but at last I've just finished off setting up my WIFI net, and it's so fast!
WiFi, also known as 802.11 networking (the IEEE standard) and wireless networking is a way to network your computers using radio signals instead of wires, the big advantage is it's simplicity and speed, Wifi typical transfer rates are between 11 megabits per second - to 54 megabits, depending on which version you buy in to.
It's very easy to set up, many new laptops have them already built in, but you can add cards to an older laptop, or desktop by installing a Wifi card.
A Wifi Hotspot is the central point for a Wifi network, it is hardwired into the internet and can transmit and receive from aprox 100 cards. You can get WiFi hotspots in all kinds of public places, hotels, restaurants and airports for example, and you can create one in your own home.
The newest machines connect directly to the hotspot as soon as you switch on and you can access the internet straight off, in older machines you have to go through a simple set of steps to connect.
You have to consider security, Wifi networks can be either open, or secure. To secure your network from eavesdropping you need to use a key, only users with a key will be able to access your network.
For a standard home, the usual setup is adequate and covers around 100 feet, multi-directional, if you have a larger home, inexpensive signal boosters are available.
All in all I wish I'd installed WiFi much sooner, it was much more simple to install than I thought and the whole setup was remarkably cheap. I wouldn't be without it now at twice the price. I am so happy to get rid of that spaghetti of wires everywhere.
Find ET with SETI@home
It's within the bounds of possiblities that you could be instrumental in finding Extra Terrestrial life from the comfort of your own home.
'SETI@home' is a scientific experiment which uses internet-connected computers to Search for ExtraTerrestrial Life (SETI). You can paticipate and help crunch the numbers by downloading the free program which analyses radio telescope data.
Personally I think it's a long shot, I would rather participate in something with more immediate benefits to mankind (like the
Global Warming Project mentioned in an earlier post). But if you're interested in that sort of thing I'm sure it's an exciting project to participate in.
Download SETI@home here
Computer Time Warp
Look, has anyone noticed how drastically time spent on your computer shrinks compared to normal time?
What has prompted this, and not for the first time, is that I've carbonised my dinner again. I dont know, with normal time I cook, it takes half and hour or so and it's done, with pc-time I cook, I spend 10 mins on the computer, I go back and the dinners burnt.
I boil the kettle to make some tea, with normal time - the kettle takes ages, again, ten minutes on the pc, I go back to find the kettle's boiled and the water's gone cold and I have to start over. There is definately something affecting time in a wierd way. Comp time seems to warp so that one hour ends up being two. I miss appointments, sometimes by a whole day! Coffee you've just made turns cold when you go to drink it. I arrange to meet friends for a drink and when I check the clock after a bit of work on the comp - it's past closing time!
This is getting out of hand. I believe there are machine-demons from hyper-space fooling with the very fabric of the space-time continuum! And it seems to happen everytime I engage with the comp.
Oh well, maybe I'm over-worked, anyway, it's Friday and time for a few bevvies down the pub.
Damn! Done it again, missed last orders!
Love a Geek!
If you're loveless and forlorn with a computer fixation, what possible interest could girls have in you? Don't dispair, geeks have got a lot going for them! Why would any girl go for the nerdy one with a laptop, over the flashy guy with a sports car, Listen up.
- They are hero's in this tech-oriented world. They can fix stuff. Baffling computer bugs and problems? Let the nerd take the strain and feel your stress levels plummit.
- They're available. Due to bad press and neglect - this is a group where girls can take thier pick! Lithe and slim from a diet of coke and Java, to a cuddly donut-junky, fat and happy types, the field is ripe and relatively unpicked.
- They're Intelligent. High IQ and usually well educated, thier conversation will encompass a broader range than the usual football and cars, and that's a desirable quality to pass on to your future children.
- Romance, while it may come in the form of digital flowers in your email, with cheesy tunes, it's genuine and they make the effort, also they don't tend to care if you don't wear makeup and slop around in your old comfy clothes, sartorial elegance isn't a geek strongpoint, so you can chill and take a break from the tedious makeup routine and be yourself.
- You know where they are. If you're not out together you don't need to worry what he's up to, he'll be in, riveted to the pc screen as usual, safe from any competition that might be around.
- They remember dates. Along with the IQ comes a good memory, coupled with the fact that they are likely to be more attentive than guys who have more options
- And finally, geeks are more likely to be interested in you, more than in your weight, your rear, or your chest endowment.
So there you you go, looking at the qualifications on that list, I think I'd better go grab me a geek god before the word gets out. Oh alright, I admit it, I've already got one!
A word of warning, don't ask a geek to choose between his computer and you, I'm afraid it's likely to be no contest.
Nanotechnology for Laptop Batteries
Batteries just arn't keeping up with the increasing strain put on them from larger screens and higher cpu power. New designs demand more power but with size and weight issues the problem of portable power is coming to an impasse.
Come to the rescue MIT using a device called an ultracapacitor. A capacitor basically stores an electric charge. The recent inovation uses nanotechnology to increase the surface area which holds the charge, the potential increase in storage capacity could be very large.
The delivery of an actual product based on this technology is still 3 - 5 years away, but the increase in power is estimated to be up to 3 times greater than ordinary Lithium-Ion.
Computing in 2020?
"The Only Limit is Our Imaginations"
So says Verner Vinge, commenting on Computing in the future.
Article
The Green Machine
Laptop computers for the poor.
$100 computers that are powered by a wind-up crank , and have low power consumption, were showcased for the first time at the
UN net summit in Tunis.
Designed to close the gap between technology and the poor, millions of machines are planned for production within a year.
Full Story
Internet Explorer 7 Beta is Now Available
It will only work with Windows XP Service Pack 2. There are many new features that have been talked about for months.
It looks like they've responded to the growing popularity of Firefox, because the Beta 7 version now includes tabbed-browsing, something I appreciate very much, and the main reason I use Firefox for most of my browsing. Give it a spin.
Download Page
Voice Over Internet Protocol
I thought I'd just pop this up for those who are confused, or haven't heard of VOIP yet, and I'll keep it simple. It enables you to speak with anyone who has it installed on thier PC, anywhere in the world, completely free. All you need is a microphone and speakers - but ideally a cheap headset. How much is this wonderful application? Completely free!
There are different varieties which you can pay for, but you don't need to. Skype, for example, is totally free and installs very easily, just download, install and you're set to go. But it doesn't end there. You can talk through your PC, the quality is said to be better than landline - But - you can also chat - text message, send photos, files, even entire software programs, what have you?
I find it utterly amazing and wouldn't be without it now. So okay, why free? Well Skype make thier profits from add-on services. You can phone ordinary landline phones, but you have to top up an account with about $10, you have to pay for these calls to landline phones, but it's much, much cheaper than standard charges.
All in all, what you simply have to do is join the revolution, wake up and relaise what's going on and take advantage. I'm amazed people haven't heard about it or got it by now. It's a no brainer.
Hope you have fun!
Global Warming Project
Fancy helping to generate the worlds most powerful climate prediction model? The debate is hotting up on Global Warming, hardly any 'expert' can dismiss the findings from many scientists around the world, and recent disasters such as New Orleans seem to be indicating that preditions of increasingly extreme weather are coming true.
Alarming findings such as the slowing of the 'Conveyor Belt' or The Gulf Stream, and evidence that it has stopped relatively abruptly in the past just cannot be ignored. The most extreme predictions say that it is already too late to stop global warming now. At any rate, this is an important project that will help paint as detailed a picture of the likely progression of the phenomenom as is possible. You can make a real contribution to the model by donating some of your computer resources to the task.
They need your help!
http://climateprediction.net/
More Keyboard Shotcuts
I hope you took a couple of minutes to try the last set. Here's a few more useful shorties:
When you've got several applications open, are you minimising one, opening another, getting a bit lost? Use the ALT + TAB Shortcut, you'll never look back. It can be a little tricky the first time.
Hold ALT first, then press tab - you'll see the display of applications you have open, keep holding ALT and press tab again. You'lll see the selection square move along the applications. Release both keys to choose the appliction you want. It's great for quickly swithcing between two or three programs.
Use Those Keyboard Shotcuts
It took me years of getting repetitive strain mouse-finger before I finally took a little time out to learn some keyboard shortcuts. It's my guess that most people take a long time to discover them, if ever, but it's very worthwhile and time-saving to make the little effort to learn a few.
Recognise this? The windows key next to the 'Ctrl' key. Ever used it? Well take 2 minutes to have a look now.
Press it once = The Start Menu
Press together with 'D' = desktop - Press together again to restore the window you were in
Press together with 'F' = The Find Dialog Box
Press together with 'E' = Explorer, to browse your computer resources
Press together with 'W' = Completelly close the window you are in
Just a couple more useful shortcuts:
When inserting a CD - Hold the shift key down = stops the CD from Auto-running
F5 Key = Refreshes the currentscreen, window, application or webpage
Give your poor mouse-finger a break - start using them!
Guess What We Got?
Let's Go
Preamble: after a hectic week I've got the lowdown on my intensive investigations into all things notebook, the problem is, you can never have a definitive picture of exactly what the best machine is - because it's always a moving target - the inovations and new models keep on coming and I can hardly keep up! But I'll follow up this preamble with just what's happening now.
The Process
I've devoted most of the weekend to searching down the optimum machine for me. I've thought long and hard about what I need the laptop for exactly. There's a plethora of models to choose from nowadays and as they are not easy to upgrade, I want the most advanced model I can afford. although it's not so much about price, it's more the functionality available for my specific needs.
I need a lot of functionality as I often run multiple programs, so that means the fastest cpu, a big hard drive and as much Ram as I can stuff in it. I do quite a lot of multimedia so I'm also looking for a laptop with advanced graphic controllers. On top of that I do a fair bit of travelling - so I'm also looking for a lightweight model, slim and with networking capability, preferably wireless and with the components optimized for greater portability. I often make presentations to clients, so I need an active matrix display.
Quite a tall order. I've looked at Dell, Toshiba, Sony VAIO, HP, ThinkPad, Acer and Fujitsu, amongst others, and I've even considered a few companies that tailor the computer to your specific requirements.
Well that's the spec. and I'll go through the machines I've considered tomorrow, so stay tuned.
The Search Goes On
Well, it's not easy. There's so much choice currently and I'm spoilt for it, I've managed to get a short list of the very best machines in my price range. No time to post now. But I'll condense all this hard work and give you a run down on exactly what's available in the marketplace currently. Look out Monday. I should be done.
Decision Time
Ah, the weekend. I've been doing plenty of research into the candidates for my new machine, and now it's decision time. I'm determined to get this done over the weekend. I've gone against refurbishment, at the end of the day it's expensive, and I can subtract the cost of refurbishment from a new laptop and be fully up to date with a shiney new machine. Got to be done. I'll be going step by step through my purchase decision, hopefully being of benefit to anyone else in the same position.
