CyberPower intros Atom-powered Windows Home Server 100

The Windows Home Server parade has slowed to a crawl, but we figure we speak for each and every streaming media lover out there when we invite more companies to give this whole thing a go. CyberPower, a firm that generally sticks to gaming towers, has apparently done just that with its Windows Home Server 100, a plainly styled SFF machine that automatically backs up local PCs and provides networked access to all sorts of files. But for those who look closely, you'll realize that the model name here is just coincidental, as it's "Windows 2003 Server OEM version" running the show. If you're still interested, the rig boasts a 1.6GHz Atom 330 processor, a mini-ITX motherboard, GMA 950 graphics, gigabit Ethernet, a 500GB SATA II hard drive and 2GB of DDR2 memory. Shame on you for getting our hopes up, CyberPower.

• Fujitsu and Toshiba reach agreement on hard drive business deal

IBM's Sequoia: 20x faster than the world's fastest supercomputer

Roadrunner? Pfff, your chart-topping 1.105 petaflops are laughable. IBM just announced its 20-freaking-petaflop Sequoia supercomputer due for delivery by 2012. While supercomputer speeds have steadily increased year-over-year, a 20x jump in calculations per second since the last world ranking is unheard of, even if the system has yet to come on-line. Slated to spend its life simulating nuclear explosions, Sequoia will use 45-nm (PowerPC, presumably) processors with 16 cores per chip for as many as 4,096 processors per rack. That's a total of 1.6 million cores assisted by 1.6 petabytes of memory. Perhaps all this processing power might help IBM understand the futility of its Lotus Notes strategy.

Shuttle ships liquid-cooled SDXi Carbon SFF gaming PC

Got a hankering for an all new gaming rig, preferably one that could fit in your over-sized backpack should the need arise? Ready to spend boatloads of cash to make it happen? If you're eagerly nodding your head up and down, have a look at Shuttle's liquid-cooled SDXi Carbon, a fancily painted machine that checks in at 7.3- x 7.9- x 12.2-inches and gets powered by a 3GHz core 2 Duo E8400 CPU. Other specs include 2/4/8GB of RAM, between 250GB and 2TB of hard drive space, an optional Blu-ray writer, your choice of NVIDIA GPU, gigabit Ethernet and optional WiFi. The starting price on this bugger is an amazing $2,599, and if you plan on customizing the base configuration whatsoever, you should probably plan on taking out yet another line of credit on what's left of your home.

• QNAP busts out Core 2 Duo-equipped TS-809 Pro Turbo NAS

Archos announces new Moorestown-based netbook, 9-inch tablet

We saw the rough'n'ready Archos 10 get reviewed mere days ago, and now the company's back with the Atom-powered Archos 10s, a new 20mm thin netbook with 3.5G functionality, 1GB memory, Windows XP Home and up to 160GB storage. Additionally, the company has designs on a 17mm-thin, 9-inch tablet based on Intel's Moorestown MID platform, to see the light of day sometime this year. This guy will include the Intel System Controller Hub chipset, up to 160GB storage, VOD and hi-def video playback, and digital TV reception. The Archos 10s should be available sometime in April, at a price to be announced.

IBuyPower dishes Dragon-based gaming desktops under $1,500

Yet again, IBuyPower is stepping out with a few new gaming rigs for the bargain-minded among us. The most recent duo to be outed by the company is the Gamer HAF 91B and the Gamer Fire, both of which are based on AMD's latest Dragon platform and Phenom II CPU. The former gets going at just $999 and includes the Phenom II X4 920 processor, 4GB of DDR2 RAM, a 500GB SATA II hard drive, a dual-layer DVD writer, ATI's 512MB Radeon HD 4850 graphics card, a CoolerMaster HAS 932 case and a 550-watt power supply. The more fiery sibling ups the ante with a Phenom II X4 940 CPU, a 750GB HDD, LG GGC-H20L Blu-ray drive and an NZXT Guardian 921 chassis. 'Course, you'll be paying $1,439 for that one, but either way you'll be keeping things below the evidently magical $1.5k mark. Order away, should you be so inclined. Full release is after the jump.
iBUYPOWER Launches Two New Dragon Based Systems – Gamer HAF 91B and Gamer Fire
Both systems Feature the AMD Phenom II, and ATI Radeon 4000 Series Graphics Card for under $1,500
El Monte, CA – February 12, 2009 – iBUYPOWER, known for its innovative and powerful gaming PCs, is excited to announce two new systems based on AMD's Dragon Platform both under $1,500. The Gamer HAF 91B and Gamer Fire are priced at just $999 and $1,439 respectively and both feature the new AMD Phenom II processors AMD 790GX Crossfire™ chipset, and ATI Radeon 4000 series graphics cards. The new Phenom II processors provide improved performance and power consumption characteristics over older AMD Quad-cores, with value unsurpassed in the consumer CPU market.
"We felt it was time offer the Dragon Platform technology to casual gamers looking to purchase a high-end system without the high-end price tag," said Darren Su, Vice President of iBUYPOWER. "With the Gamer HAF 91B and Fire we can offer powerful systems that deliver high definition graphics and smooth game play at a great value."
Housed in the highly accessible Gamer HAF enclosure, the iBUYPOWER Gamer HAF 91B ships with AMD Phenom™ II X4 920 Processor, 4GB DDR2-800 Memory, and an ATI Radeon™ HD 4850 512MB Video. The iBUYPOWER Gamer HAF 91B was designed for the entry-level PC gamer looking for powerful, yet affordable gaming system.
For a more comprehensive gaming and media solution, iBUYPOWER offers the Gamer Fire system in the NZXT Guardian 921 Case. Customers who upgrade to the Gamer Fire can take advantage of the speedy AMD Phenom™ II X4 940 Processor, a CPU liquid cooling system, LG GGC-H20L BLU-RAY Reader Drive for HD playback and an 800W power supply for just $440 more. iBUYPOWER also included the dominating ATI Radeon™ HD 4870X2 2GB Video Card in the Gamer Fire to provide a significant boost in gaming performance.
The iBUYPOWER Gamer HAF 91B and Gamer Fire are available at www.iBUYPOWER.com.

IBM Tivoli comes to the cloud

The new world of computing has not been particularly kind thus far to the historical management vendors. It's not that virtulization and cloud computing in their various--and often ambiguous guises--have made past styles of computing irrelevant. COBOL programs still underlay lots of important business processes, after all. (Credit: IBM) But newer approaches to computing--often characterized by ground-up and tactical solutions to IT concerns--have tended to trump the sort of big, architected, expensive paths to nirvana that the likes of enterprise management have tended to take. The fact is that the likes of CA Unicenter, HP OpenView, and IBM Tivoli may not have been a part of computing over the past five years or so--but they haven't exactly been on top of the exciting new action, either. This is a context that makes IBM's Dynamic Infrastructure news, coming out of its Pulse conference in Las Vegas, worthy of more than passing mention. Tivoli is, broadly, IBM's management software assets within its broader software group. IBM breaks Tivoli software into a variety of categories such as asset management; business application management; security management; server, network, and device management; service management; service provider solutions; and solutions for growing medium businesses. The announcements IBM made at Pulse touch on a variety of areas--including storage. However, what I find most strategically notable are those related to service management. These include:

• IBM service management software and services from IBM Global Business Services, IBM Global Technology Services, and specialized IBM Business Partner capabilities. Together, they enable organizations to design and implement IT systems that centrally manage and monitor an entire industry infrastructure, enabling greater performance of both traditional assets, such as manufacturing robotic equipment, as well as emerging technologies like "smart meters" and RFID (radio frequency identification).
  
• A new governance-consulting practice. Through the practice, IBM works with clients to design governance systems to help mitigate risks related to business changes, changing market conditions, and regulatory requirements.
  
• New Tivoli Service Automation Manager software, which automates the design, deployment, and management of services such as middleware, applications, hardware, and networks, tasks that today are largely done manually and thus are subject to error, time constraints, and other human limitations.
  
• New Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager software, which helps organizations simplify the life cycle of encryption keys by enabling them to centralize, automate, and strengthen security through key management processes, with an increasing number of IT infrastructure elements having built in encryption to protect them.

What most struck me about these announcements is the way that they intersect with other discussions that I've had with IBM of late related to System Z (i.e., IBM mainframes) and cloud computing.  On the System Z front, IBM's Karl Freund and Joe Castano recently walked me through a road map discussion that was fundamentally concerned with issues such as how to deal with "composite" applications that run across multiple platforms (including, but not limited to, System Z) and how to simplify hybrid transactions in such an environment. From my perspective, this sounds a lot like past System Z initiatives related to being the "hub" of the digital enterprise. But this has a much more explicit management--which is to say Tivoli--focus. More broadly, I also had the opportunity last week to hear Erich Clementi and Chris O'Connor walk me though IBM's new cloud-computing organization. Clementi and O'Connor presented what my colleague Jonathan Eunice described as a "very heavyweight, enterprisey view of cloud." Put another way, my take was that this was really about how IBM will help the enterprise implement a version 2.0 of SOA (service-oriented architecture): lots of IBM Global Services (IGS) and lots of Tivoli management goodness. There is nothing wrong with any of this. But it's a view of the cloud through the top-down lens of an enterprise-architected Tivoli and IGS approach, rather than the bottom-up, tactical, always-in-beta methodology that's been most associated with the consumer cloud.

AMD's new Phenom II chips take on Intel

 Advanced Micro Devices added new Phenom II desktop models on Monday, including triple-core processors, as it tries to outdo Intel desktop price-performance.  The Phenom II "Dragon" line of desktop processors uses AMD's new 45-nanometer technology and comprises both quad-core (X4) and triple-core (X3) parts. The triple-core Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition processor is priced at $145, which AMD compares to Intel's Core 2 Duo (dual-core) E8400 processor, priced at $163. The quad-core x4 810 processor (2.6GHz) is priced at $175 versus the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor (2.33GHz), priced at $163. The Phenom II processors fit in either AM2+ or AM3 sockets and support DDR2 or next generation DDR3 memory technology. Models include:

• AMD Phenom II X4 910 - (2.6GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X4 810 - (2.6GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X4 805 - (2.5GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition - (2.8GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X3 710 - (2.6GHz)
  

The processors are available immediately, AMD said.

• Engadget's recession antidote: win a Razer Lycosa Mirror!

IBM Tivoli comes to the cloud

The new world of computing has not been particularly kind thus far to the historical management vendors. It's not that virtulization and cloud computing in their various--and often ambiguous guises--have made past styles of computing irrelevant. COBOL programs still underlay lots of important business processes, after all. (Credit: IBM) But newer approaches to computing--often characterized by ground-up and tactical solutions to IT concerns--have tended to trump the sort of big, architected, expensive paths to nirvana that the likes of enterprise management have tended to take. The fact is that the likes of CA Unicenter, HP OpenView, and IBM Tivoli may not have been a part of computing over the past five years or so--but they haven't exactly been on top of the exciting new action, either. This is a context that makes IBM's Dynamic Infrastructure news, coming out of its Pulse conference in Las Vegas, worthy of more than passing mention. Tivoli is, broadly, IBM's management software assets within its broader software group. IBM breaks Tivoli software into a variety of categories such as asset management; business application management; security management; server, network, and device management; service management; service provider solutions; and solutions for growing medium businesses. The announcements IBM made at Pulse touch on a variety of areas--including storage. However, what I find most strategically notable are those related to service management. These include:

• IBM service management software and services from IBM Global Business Services, IBM Global Technology Services, and specialized IBM Business Partner capabilities. Together, they enable organizations to design and implement IT systems that centrally manage and monitor an entire industry infrastructure, enabling greater performance of both traditional assets, such as manufacturing robotic equipment, as well as emerging technologies like "smart meters" and RFID (radio frequency identification).
  
• A new governance-consulting practice. Through the practice, IBM works with clients to design governance systems to help mitigate risks related to business changes, changing market conditions, and regulatory requirements.
  
• New Tivoli Service Automation Manager software, which automates the design, deployment, and management of services such as middleware, applications, hardware, and networks, tasks that today are largely done manually and thus are subject to error, time constraints, and other human limitations.
  
• New Tivoli Key Lifecycle Manager software, which helps organizations simplify the life cycle of encryption keys by enabling them to centralize, automate, and strengthen security through key management processes, with an increasing number of IT infrastructure elements having built in encryption to protect them.

What most struck me about these announcements is the way that they intersect with other discussions that I've had with IBM of late related to System Z (i.e., IBM mainframes) and cloud computing.  On the System Z front, IBM's Karl Freund and Joe Castano recently walked me through a road map discussion that was fundamentally concerned with issues such as how to deal with "composite" applications that run across multiple platforms (including, but not limited to, System Z) and how to simplify hybrid transactions in such an environment. From my perspective, this sounds a lot like past System Z initiatives related to being the "hub" of the digital enterprise. But this has a much more explicit management--which is to say Tivoli--focus. More broadly, I also had the opportunity last week to hear Erich Clementi and Chris O'Connor walk me though IBM's new cloud-computing organization. Clementi and O'Connor presented what my colleague Jonathan Eunice described as a "very heavyweight, enterprisey view of cloud." Put another way, my take was that this was really about how IBM will help the enterprise implement a version 2.0 of SOA (service-oriented architecture): lots of IBM Global Services (IGS) and lots of Tivoli management goodness. There is nothing wrong with any of this. But it's a view of the cloud through the top-down lens of an enterprise-architected Tivoli and IGS approach, rather than the bottom-up, tactical, always-in-beta methodology that's been most associated with the consumer cloud.

AMD's new Phenom II chips take on Intel

 Advanced Micro Devices added new Phenom II desktop models on Monday, including triple-core processors, as it tries to outdo Intel desktop price-performance.  The Phenom II "Dragon" line of desktop processors uses AMD's new 45-nanometer technology and comprises both quad-core (X4) and triple-core (X3) parts. The triple-core Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition processor is priced at $145, which AMD compares to Intel's Core 2 Duo (dual-core) E8400 processor, priced at $163. The quad-core X4 810 processor (2.6GHz) is priced at $175 versus the Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 processor (2.33GHz), priced at $163. The Phenom II processors fit in either AM2+ or AM3 sockets and support DDR2 or next generation DDR3 memory technology. Models include:

• AMD Phenom II X4 910 - (2.6GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X4 810 - (2.6GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X4 805 - (2.5GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition - (2.8GHz)
  
  
• AMD Phenom II X3 710 - (2.6GHz)
  

The processors are available immediately, AMD said.

• Engadget's recession antidote: win a Razer Lycosa Mirror!

German Mac clone company thinks Germany doesn't have laws

We're never going to get tired of the insane legal theories would-be Mac clone companies trot out to try and circumvent incredibly basic copyright and contract law concepts -- like Psystar claiming Apple has a monopoly on its own products -- and today we've got German cloners HyperMeganet, who'll sell you a 3.2GHz Core i7 Blu-ray-equipped PearC tower with Mac os X preinstalled for €2,408 ($3,111). According to the wonderfully-named Hypermeganet, German law requires EULAs to be available for review before purchase, so Apple can't enforce its license restrictions since the Mac OS X EULA isn't printed on the outside of the box. Leaving aside the fact that the OS X installer displays the EULA on-screen and that you have to click "Agree" before installing, we'd just like to point out that all of Apple's license agreements are available for your leisurely perusal before purchase right here -- including the German OS X license, which we're damn sure Apple's foreign counsel has made sure is valid and applicable in that country. Oops. We'll see how long Hypermeganet can keep itself out of trouble -- seriously, when will these companies learn that all they're doing is hurting the homebrew OS X hacking scene by tempting Apple into locking down their systems even harder?

• IDrive Portable HDD backs your files up locally and online

S1Digital intros P500 Media Center, updates ProLine Series of HTPCs

It's been a hot minute since S1Digital tickled our attention with a new media center, but the outfit is hitting back this year with a new machine along with updates to a number of its ProLine Series rigs. The new kid on the block is the P500 Media Center, which is available with up to four CableCARD tuners (plus a QAM / ATSC tuner), support for internal RAID5 storage, HDMI / DVI, 7.1-channel audio output and Intel's latest Core 2 Duo processors. As for the refreshed bunch, you can catch the S800 and P600 with Blu-ray drives as standard, quad CableCARD tuners and support for home automation integration with Crestron, AMX, RTI, HAI and PC based-touchscreens over IP or RS-232. Every machine mentioned here can be ordered up now, with the new P500 starting at a staggering $5,999 sans tuners.

• OpenFrame and O2 caught canoodling in the wild

S1Digital intros P500 Media Center, updates ProLine Series of HTPCs

It's been a hot minute since S1Digital tickled our attention with a new media center, but the outfit is hitting back this year with a new machine along with updates to a number of its ProLine Series rigs. The new kid on the block is the P500 Media Center, which is available with up to four CableCARD tuners (plus a QAM / ATSC tuner), support for internal RAID5 storage, HDMI / DVI, 7.1-channel audio output and Intel's latest Core 2 Duo processors. As for the refreshed bunch, you can catch the S800 and P600 with Blu-ray drives as standard, quad CableCARD tuners and support for home automation integration with Crestron, AMX, RTI, HAI and PC based-touchscreens over IP or RS-232. Every machine mentioned here can be ordered up now, with the new P500 starting at a staggering $5,999 sans tuners.

• OpenFrame and O2 caught canoodling in the wild

Intel: use our CPU (not their GPU) for game coding

Intel is back, pitching its processors for gaming graphics. The chipmaker will attempt to promote its silicon for sophisticated game effects at the upcoming Game Developer's Conference in March, as it strives to make a case for quad-core processors in lieu of graphics chips from Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices.  The pitch goes like this: "Learn how to easily add real-time 3D smoke, fog and other fluid simulations to your game without using up the GPU." That's according to an Intel Web page entitled Intel at Game Developer Conference. (The CPU is the central processing unit, or main brains of a computer; GPU stands for graphics processing unit.) The session abstract goes on to say that the "source code to a fluid simulator optimized for multi-core CPUs...can easily be integrated by game developers into their engines to produce unique 3D effects." Intel's argument begs the question, how should the CPU and GPU divvy up their tasks? In games, the CPU can handle things like physics and AI (artificial intelligence), and certain older games actually run some graphics on the CP. Generally, however, the GPU is much more efficient (that is, faster) at handling most of the high-end effects that the gamer sees on the screen. But there are exceptions. "Not all algorithms and processes map well to a GPU," said Jon Peddie, president of Jon Peddie Research. "You have to have a problem that is naturally parallel, and except for the rendering of, say, a water surface and subsurface and reflections, the wave motion equations will run just fine on a CPU," Peddie said. Intel may also be seeking ways to make better use of its quad-core processors, according to Tom R. Halfhill, an analyst at the Microprocessor Report. But, he added: "I need to be convinced that a CPU can do those 3D effects better than a GPU can." Then, there's also the Larrabee factor. Larrabee is an upcoming high-end graphics processor due late this year. "I'm sure some of it may also relate to Larrabee, which will include x86 cores, if or when it comes to market," said Jim McGregor, an analyst at In-Stat. (This Mythbusters demonstration at an Nvidia conference is oversimplified and self-serving but it crystallizes the difference between CPUs and GPUs.) In another GDC session, Intel is also pushing the CPU for physics and AI: "How can your game have more accurate physics, smarter AI, more particles, and/or a faster frame-rate? By threading your game's engine to take advantage of multi-core processors. Intel has built a threaded game engine and demo called 'Smoke' that shows one way of achieving this goal," the abstract states. It continues: "This presentation examines the Smoke architecture and how it is designed to take advantage of all CPU cores available within a system. It does this by executing different functional and data blocks in parallel to utilize all available cores." Intel won't stop there. It will also focus on the bane of many PC game developers: gaming on Intel integrated graphics silicon--a relatively low-performance platform that prohibits game titles from being displayed in all their glory at higher resolutions. The session will focus on "programming for scalable graphics applications" and cover "performance considerations when programming for integrated graphics in general with specific tips for Intel Integrated graphics."

Netbook in a suitcase: all the shortcomings of a subnote in a large, inconvenient package

This is true art, friend. The amazing "brotato" (rhymes with potato, in a perfect world) has hacked together netbook components, an ancient keyboard and a 14.2-inch LCD into this classy case, dubbing the project "The Poor Man's Netbook." The box is running Windows XP, but he tested it out with Windows 7 and Mac OS X and it performed beautifully, except for the Bluetooth 2.1 module. The box is based on a Mini-ITX Intel D945GCLF2 Dual Core 1.6Ghz Atom motherboard, with 2GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD and 802.11n WiFi -- though you'll have to hunt down an outlet, there's no battery power here. The best news is that he's selling the whole conglomeration on eBay, perfect for completing that piece of horrible cyberpunk fiction you've been slaving over on your boringtop.

• Nortel quits the mobile WiMAX game

Maingear intros Remix workstation for the creative professional

We tell ya, Maingear doesn't get a lot of play amongst the big timers like Dell and HP, but it sure knows how to crank out machines that are just different enough to be worth examining. Enter the Remix workstation, a desktop designed for creative professionals who dabble in graphic design, video production and pro audio. As expected, there's plenty of horsepower under the hood including a Core i7 CPU, Quadro FX / CX GPU options, up to 12GB of DDR3 RAM, RAID 0 HDD configurations, gobs of ports and an advanced liquid cooling system to keep the fans from making too much racket. The "handbuilt in America" machine starts at $1,999, though you can easily push that figure above the four grand mark with just a few tweaks. Full release is after the break.
MAINGEAR Launches Remix™ Creative Workstation PC
MAINGEAR Extends Lineup of Award-Winning PCs to Creative Professionals
Remix Features NVIDIA Quadro CX, M-Audio Interface Cards, and Liquid Cooling from CoolIT Systems
Union, New Jersey – January 29th, 2009 – MAINGEAR Computers, award-winning builders of high performance custom computers for PC Enthusiasts, announced the availability of the next generation of workstations in the market. MAINGEAR will be arming enthusiasts in photoshop, graphic design, video production, pro audio and other creative professions with the new high performance Remix Workstation.
"With Remix, we've leveraged years of experience in high performance computing in the PC Gaming and Enthusiast market and are extending that same level of performance, value and service to creative professionals everywhere with a workstation PC capable of handling even the most rigorous computing tasks" said Wallace Santos, CEO and Founder of MAINGEAR.
Optimized for Photo/Graphics/Video Enthusiasts – By integrating NVIDIA® Quadro CX®, MAINGEAR is offering the fastest creative workstation designed and optimized for Adobe® Creative Suite® 4. This will provide professionals with the tools, performance and reliability needed to maximize creativity. Harness the power of the Remix to encode H.264 video up to 4x faster with the NVIDIA CUDA™-enabled plug-in for Adobe® Premiere Pro CS4*. All this extra performance shaves hours off your encoding and rendering time, offering the power and flexibility needed to be creative during critical crunch times. This powerful system with NVIDIA's latest graphics technology maximizes a number of visually intensive functions, including:
* Bring unprecedented fluidity to image navigation. The Remix enables real-time image rotation, zooming, and panning, and makes changes to the view instantaneous and smooth. Also, on-screen compositing of both 2D and 3D content, ensuring smoothly anti-aliased results regardless of zoom level. Brush resizing and brushstroke preview, 3D movement, high-dynamic-range tone mapping, and color conversion are also accelerated.
* Accelerate a variety of creative effects, making it easier than ever to add graphics and visual effects to video, which allows the artist to quickly move from concept to final product and speeds up the workflow. Effects accelerated include depth of field, bilateral blur effects, turbulent noise such as flowing water or waving flags, and cartoon effects. The Remix with the Quadro CX takes advantages of these workflow enhancements.
* Accelerate high-quality video effects such as motion, opacity, color, and image distortion. The Remix also enables faster editing of multiple high-definition video streams and graphic overlays and provides a variety of video output choices for high-quality preview, including DisplayPort, component TV, or uncompressed 10-bit or 12-bit SDI.
"NVIDIA specifically designed and optimized the Quadro CX graphics card to significantly enhance the performance of Adobe CS4," says Tyler Worden, Market Development Manager, Professional Solutions, NVIDIA. "By offering the Remix systems equipped with Quadro CX, MAINGEAR is offering its creative professional customers a complete solution that will have a transformative impact on the quality, image manipulation and processing speed of all Adobe CS4 applications."
Enhanced for Audio Editing – MAINGEAR Remix's advanced sound insulation makes it the perfect workstation choice for audio editing in the studio. Remix offers an array of some of the best PCI Audio Interfaces in the industry from M-Audio that offer the fullest range of audio editing capabilities designed to handle the needs of the most demanding project and professional studios.
Reliable and Feature Rich - The MAINGEAR Remix is built to meet the most meticulous specifications and supported by the best team in the industry. The most cutting edge features enable the Remix to deliver performance when you need it.
* Studio quality sound insulation – Advanced insulation materials keeps the noise in and dense mesh air filters keep the dust out
* Powerful components - Latest technology from NVIDIA, Intel, M-Audio put Remix at the cusp of cutting-edge technology
* Skillfully hand-built in the USA - Backed by the best in-house support team in the country
* Advanced Liquid Cooling – MAINGEAR partnered with CoolIt Systems to equip the Remix with advanced Liquid Cooling for the quietest, most reliable work experience available to date in a workstation
"The computing demands for creative professionals rely heavily on their processor firing on all cylinders" said Geoff Lyon, CEO of CoolIT Systems. "By incorporating Domino Advanced Liquid Cooling technology from CoolIT, the Remix ensures that Intel Core i7 runs cool and achieves optimal performance so that no task is ever too tall for today's creative professional."
Creative Professionals can purchase the MAINGEAR Remix at MAINGEAR's website www.maingear.com or order by phone at (888-MAINGEAR). The base price for Remix is $1,999.99($3,999.99 with NVIDIA Quadro CX) and is available in Black, Silver, Electric Blue, Inferno Red, Alpine White, and Speed Yellow. The MAINGEAR Remix will also offer the option of custom branding.

Trusted Computing Group spec to be foundation of storage encryption

Every day it seems like there is a new and significant data breach in the news. In fact, organizations like ChoicePoint, TJX, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or Heartland Payment Systems have become poster children for the sorry state of information assurance. Recognizing the risks to sensitive data, many companies have implemented full-disk encryption software from companies like PGP, PointSec, SafeBoot, and Utimaco. Still, this means purchasing, deploying, and managing add-on software on lots of PCs--a cumbersome operational task. For a number of years, I've been writing about a superior alternative, hard drive-based encryption. Fitted with self-encrypting drives, PC-based disks are encrypted from the get-go. What's more, disk-based encryption is more secure than add-on software with virtually no impact on system performance. So why haven't PCs with encrypting hard drives become a de facto standard? Users were afraid of proprietary hardware implementations and a lack of software management support. These were valid concerns--until now. This week, the Trusted Computing Group (TCG) announced the publication of three new standards for storage encryption. One is for PC hard drives (aka Opal), one is for enterprise hard drives (aka the Enterprise Security Subsystem Class Specification), and one is for secure interoperability with other storage standards like SCSI and ATA. All of the large hard drive vendors, including Fujitsu, Hitachi, Seagate, and Toshiba, will deliver hard drives that support these standards, and management software vendors like Secude, Wave Systems, and WinMagic are also on board. Others will surely follow. What do these new TCG standards mean?

1. Software encryption is all but dead. Soon, most business laptops will be offered with encrypting hard drives at a nominal premium over a standard system. Heck, Dell already has about 12 models available. In three to five years, every disk drive may be encryption-enabled as it rolls off the production line. Encryption software fades away--quickly.
   
2. CIOs and purchasing managers need to develop a plan. Many IT and security managers have no idea that TCG even exists, but this is no longer acceptable. Since laptops and desktop PCs will come with encryption "baked in," it is incumbent upon IT and endpoint management and security teams to create a plan for phasing in systems with self-encrypting drives and phase out encryption software over time.
   
3. Expect encrypting drives in enterprise arrays. This will take a bit more time, as demand for array-based encryption isn't nearly as high. Nevertheless, every storage system produced by EMC, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HP, and IBM may eventually follow this path.
   
4. Federal endpoint security initiatives must shift direction. I'm thinking specifically about the Federal Desktop Core Configuration effort and the Data at Rest SmartBuy program. Each of these efforts should be updated to emphasize disk-based encryption over software. The National Institute of Standards, the National Security Agency, and the U.S. General Service Administration must lead the effort to qualify, certify, and build procurement tools for self encrypting drive technologies soon.

There is a common IT evolution where software replaces hardware in order to offload processing, enhance performance, and lower overall system costs. This cycle is exactly what is happening here, and there is no turning back. My suggestion is that IT and security decision-makers come to terms with this ASAP. Your long-term information assurance strategy may depend on this.

• Samsung seems pretty proud of world's highest density DRAM chip

Charter launching 60Mbps broadband, asks "FiOS what?"

Still waiting for Verizon's FiOS to come and light up your neighborhood with blistering download speeds? Now you have something even faster to wait for, with Charter Communications announcing it is launching a 60Mbps broadband service, utilizing DOCSIS 3.0 to fit more bits in the same pipes -- not quite the 160Mbps Comcast predicted, but we'll take it. What the company isn't announcing is when people will be able to tap into this or how much they'll pay for the privilege, but hopefully it'll be a little less than the $140 Verizon is charging.
Update: We found word of prices and, go figure, the service costs exactly the same as FiOS: $140 per month. But, you can save $10 if you bundle it with TV or phone service.

• Western Digital 2TB Caviar Green review roundup

Intel said to be prepping eight-core Xeon for launch next month

Nothing's official just yet, but Macworld is reporting that Intel will be rolling out an eight-core Xeon processor at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference in San Francisco next month, marking the company's first foray into octa-core processors, and paving the way for 16-core systems using two of the chips. Unfortunately, there aren't many more details than that, with the only other word being that it'll be a 16-thread processor, and be manufactured using a 45-nanometer process. As Macworld notes, however, it does seem likely that the processor in question is the Nehalem-EP seen on the roadmap above, which is based on the Tylersburg platform -- the first product of Intel's throw-a-dart-at-a-map naming scheme.

• SteelSeries World of Warcraft Mouse equipped for hands-on impressions, +14 agility

Atom-powered Stinger 553 SFF PC could likely withstand nuclear stresses

For the man who proudly owns an Impenetrable Iron Drive comes this, the Atom-powered Stinger 553 from CodaOctopus Colmek. Hailed as a rugged tactical small form factor PC, the box you see pictured above measures just 5- x 5- x 3-inches and is built to MIL-STD-810F and MIL-STD-461E environmental standards and MIL-STD0704E power supply voltage standards. For the layperson, that means it can withstand an almost ungodly amount of vibration, dust, humidity and sandblasting. Packed within the aluminum alloy chassis is an unnamed Atom CPU, 2GB of RAM, a 128GB SSD, eight USB 2.0 ports and plenty of other goodies that'll handle mission critical applications. It seems as if you'll have to phone up the company in order to get a price, but considering that you could almost take this to war, we wouldn't bank on it being cheap.

Lian-Li's PC-888: if the Burj Al Arab were a PC chassis

We're not sure what percentage of each PC-888 sale goes straight to the owners of Dubai's Burj Al Arab, but it better be a lot. Lian-Li's latest eye-popping PC chassis looks pretty much exactly like the aforesaid hotel, and it's constructed from a significant amount of blue anodized aluminum. As you can probably tell from just looking, you can fit practically anything you'd ever need (as far as PC internals go) in here, with the case measuring in at 11.6- x 29.1- x 18.1-inches. A price has yet to be publicly disclosed, but a quick search brings up figures in the high $400s. Yeah, ouch.

• Kensington SlimBlade trackball for the smooth operator

HP issues software update for MediaSmart Server

It's been forever and a day since HP issued a MediaSmart Server update, but now -- at long last -- owners can suck down some more new software in order to implement a few minor changes. The HPMSS-1.3-R1 update adds in a Rollback feature, improves image processing performance in HP Photo Webshare, corrects error messages displayed using SSL and TZO certifications and removes unnecessary temperature sensor displays. Give it a go and let us know how things turn out, will ya?

AMD earnings: more fear, uncertainty and doubt?

These are not ordinary times. Not for Advanced Micro Devices, which reports earnings on Thursday. Nor for Intel.

For starters, AMD said last week that that it would slash its workforce by 9 percent and institute temporary salary cuts. This comes as the company enters the final stages of bifurcating into the AMD the product company, which designs chips, and The Foundry Company, which the manufactures them. A measure taken to stave off collapse. (There are still a few more steps that have to be taken before the split is sanctioned by all entities involved.) Even presuming the split is completed according to plan, AMD, like Intel, has to face a difficult first quarter and possibly troubled second quarter. These two quarters are historically weak to begin with. Add the unusually negative macroeconomic factors on top of that and "recovery isn't looking like a first half kind of thing" for AMD, according to an industry source who follows the company and expects AMD to paint a less than rosy picture. "This doesn't look like one of your normal semiconductor cycles, where you pop out of it very quickly and very aggressively, and overtake any dips," said the person. And speaking of dips, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the largest contract chip manufacturer and major industry bellwether, said on January 9 that December net sales on a consolidated basis were off 30.1 percent from November 2008 and off a whopping 51.9 percent (54.8 percent on an unconsolidated basis) from December 2007. TSMC reports fourth quarter results on Thursday too. The situation for Intel--which reported a 90 percent dive in year-to-year fourth-quarter profits last week--isn't that different. Bloomberg is reporting that chief executive officer Paul Otellini told employees last week in an internal memo that a first quarter loss is possible after 87 quarters of profit. But Intel said as much publicly in its earnings conference call last week, refusing to give official guidance for the first quarter due to heightened uncertainty and then bringing up a possible scenario in which things don't improve as expected. Chief financial officer Stacy Smith put it this way during the conference call: because of the dramatic drop-off in demand from customers (what Intel calls "the supply chain") in the fourth quarter, the chipmaker is "aggressively" reducing factory utilization in the first quarter. "The expectation is that we can start to reload the factories a bit in Q2 from where they are in Q1," he said. But he then addressed a "hypothetical" situation where conditions don't improve as expected. In this case, Smith said Intel would slow the introduction of next-generation 32-nanometer manufacturing process technology. (Currently Intel chips are based on 45-nanometer technology.) "Over time if our view of demand is wrong and this is much worse than we expect...We'd slow the ramp rate of 32-nanometer," he said.

• The Jet Mouse Locks In On That Promotion [Peripherals]

Lenovo trots out new trifecta of unexciting desktops

Forgive us, but we just can't get jazzed about a trio of Lenovo desktops that offer up nothing innovative whatsoever. Sure, the IdeaCentre K220 may pack a Core 2 Quad CPU, upwards of 4GB of DDR3 RAM and an optional Blu-ray drive, but that's nothing we couldn't slap together ourselves in a few minutes. The K230 ups the ante a bit with room for 8GB of memory and Windows Vista 64-bit, while the lower-end H200 (shown above) becomes Lenovo's first desktop with an Atom under the hood. All three machines will be available this month starting at $449, $499 and $399.99 (bundled with the ThinkVision L195 monitor), in order of mention.

• Laser Hard drive boasts 1Tbits/s access time, doesn't exist yet

MSI announces Wind NetTop D130 -- the desktop with Nordic styling

Every morning we struggle to stay awake while reading one copycat netbook announcement after another, and, now that low-end desktops seem to be finding the same popularity, we've ordered a fleet of coffee robots to keep eyes open at Engadget HQ. On the heels of unveiling its mildly interesting all-in-one Neton series, MSI has followed up with the rather more generic D130 NetTop, featuring something MSI calls "Nordic Simple Style" (which they previously just called barebones). Moving beyond appearances, the machine does seem like a decent package, sporting a mild but serviceable Atom 330 processor, 2GB of DDR2 memory, a Super-Multi DVD burner, 7.1 output, and a meager 35W power consumption when operating at "full speed." Granted, that full speed won't do much for your 3DMark scores, but an expected $240 price tag should make it a good fit for anyone in search of a simple machine for desk or home theater.

Lenovo All-in-One IdeaCentre A600 hands-on

We just got a chance to check out Lenovo's All-in-One IdeaCentre A600, featuring the motion-based remote control that doubles as a VoIP handset. three minutes into the tennis game, we managed to toss the remote into an adjacent HDTV and pulled our shoulder out of alignment. We couldn't call for help -- the VoIP wasn't functional -- but we did manage to snap some screens with our good arm.

• Netgear intros two new home routers, one 3G WWAN router

HP's TouchSmart all-in-one PC slips on its business socks

Can you imagine if Dunder Mifflin landed a contract with HP, and every single PC in The Office was replaced with a TouchSmart all-in-one? Yeah, hilarity would undoubtedly ensue. Nevertheless, the company has decided to push its dx9000 into the corporate arena. The business-class device is pre-loaded with Windows Vista business 64, an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a 22-inch panel and a Virtual LAN driver. Outside of that, we can't really see any major differences between the suited version and the consumer edition, but it's all about marketing, anyway. Whip out the Pro Card next month, as each of these will set you back at least $1,399.

• Logitech axes 15% of salaried workforce as it restructures

AMD finally launches Phenom II and its Dragon desktop platform

It was a struggle getting it "officially" out the door, and the reviews are already lackluster, but AMD's 45nm, quad-core Phenom II has finally arrived. It's available in two flavors, the 2.8GHz X4 920 and the 3.0GHz X4 940 Black Edition, going for $235 and $275, respectively. AMD's naturally touting the ostensible cost savings of the chips -- they're supposed to split the difference between Intel's Core 2 Quad and Core i7 processor -- but in reality they seems to trail Intel's offerings pretty soundly on the price / performance curve. The accompanying Dragon platform includes a Phenom II proc, 4800-series Radeon HD graphics and a 790-series motherboard, all of which should combine for low power consumption -- up to 40 percent compared to Phenom processors. Where the Phenom II definitely wins is the fact that some AMD folks will be able to drop in the chip to existing motherboards, but otherwise it looks like value hounds and performance junkies aren't being served by this new chip -- at least until unreasonable overclocking activities make all the pain go away.

• Clickfree gone wild at CES: 1TB drive, Mac support and online backup

New Mac mini mentioned in third party press release

It seems like the signs are pointing to a refresh of the Mac mini when this year's Macworld rolls around. According to a press release by SeeFile, their new (version 4.6) web server software can be purchased bundled with a Mac mini server with 1 terabyte of storage -- which is odd enough, since the largest internal drive that ships with the thing is 120GB. And how about the release itself, indiscreetly titled: "New Mac Mini Hardware to Be Supported by Revolutionary SeeFile Web Sharing DAM Software." Of course, this could all be mere speculation, rumors and innuendo. We'll find out soon enough, won't we?

• USB Wireless Keypad is perfect for number-crunching on-the-go

HP officially launches Firebird with Voodoo DNA

We figured it was destined for a CES release, and HP has confirmed that today's the day. The hotly anticipated Firebird with Voodoo DNA has been properly introduced to the world, and within it will come an Intel Core 2 Quad CPU, twin NVIDIA GeForce 9800S graphics cards in an SLI configuration, hot-swappable 320GB hard drives (two of 'em) and an advanced thermal management system to keep things cool, calm, collected and quiet. As we'd heard, the rig will be available starting on January 9th for as little as $1,799 directly from Voodoo, while those too frightened to hand over their credit card information online can hold tight 'til it hits select retailers (read: best Buy, most likely) on February 1st. Have a look at Rahul Sood and team gloating ad nauseum over this thing just after the break.

• Iomega's Home media Network Hard Drive backs up files, streams content

Atomic Power in Supercomputing

The entire industry took note when INTEL announced its Atom line of CPU's. Intel's ATOM is a new type of processor; it's tiny, consumes ultra low power. It delivers the full capabilities of an x86 desktop CPU. This implies that it can run windows and will work with a 945G chipset, DDR2 RAM. Atom is more basic than Core 2, being only a single core processor.The Atom line has been specifically designed for low power applications. But if you are thinking of buying it and fitting it into your desktop motherboard then there's some sad news for you b'coz these CPU's cannot fit onto usual desktop motherboard, it's available to the vendors so as to assemble them with a compatible motherboard, then the CPU is soldered on to motherboard.I can assure you that doing everyday work like, browsing, listening to music is easy, but when I opened word, excel, access, PowerPoint simultaneously it took 20 minutes for atom to open it, despite its Hyper Threading technology. Certainly, its performance is not going to set the world alight. When I ran a video playback test to test its Home Theater PC capabilities it ran smoothly, but the CPU usage was around 80 percent, so it was clear that it'll not support full HD.The specifications for the motherboard are reasonable - the integrated Intel GMA950 video chip can use up to 8MB of the main memory, the RAM and FSB speed is limited to 533 MHz, connectivity is via a 10/100 onboard LAN chip, ans the number of USB ports available is four.So it's clear that it's not a users' delight in performance. It is all about spending no more energy than required. Also it does not use fans instead relays on two heat sinks for cooling. With a 4W TDP it not only saves electricity bill, but increases backup time when running on a UPS. While the Atom 230 loses out on performance to any entry level desktop package, it certainly is unbeatable on the power consumption charts.

To read reviews for great products you can purchase online, visit Review Hub. You can post your own reviews as well, at the http://www.reviewhub.org website.

• Programming Enhanced Keyboards

Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 All-in-One Desktop unleashed

Lenovo's just announced their newest desktop - the IdeaCentre A600 - for all to wonder at. This puppy's got a 21.5-inch (1920x1080) HD panel with a 16:9 aspect ratio, and the PC packs a choice of Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs, optional ATI Radeon graphics, 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and an up to 1TB hard drive. Optional to the system is a remote control which can also be used as a game controller, a VOIP handset to make and receive calls, and as an air mouse -- that's a lot of functions! The A600 is expected to roll out in March with a starting price of $999. Check out the full press release after the break.
"Thin is In" for Consumer PC Design as Lenovo Debuts All-in-One Desktop and 16-inch Laptop
Marks One Year Anniversary with New Collection of Trend-Setting Entertainment-Focused PCs
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – January 5, 2009: Lenovo today announced the latest additions to its Idea brand of personal computers for consumers. The new PCs push the envelope in the pursuit of thinner and more stylish designs, and combine these attributes with unique features like facial recognition and high-definition entertainment technologies to give consumers a computing experience like no other. There are four new IdeaPad laptops – the IdeaPad Y650, the thinnest and lightest 16-inch laptop in its class1, the Y550 and Y430 laptops with a similar family design to the Y650, and the thinnest all-in-one desktop PC, the IdeaCentre A600. With the explosive growth of social networking, Lenovo also continues to enhance its IdeaPad S10 netbook with new instant on capability, facial recognition and easy access to Lenovo's social networking community.
"With the launch of our global consumer Idea brand a year ago, we've shown the world that PC technology can be powerful and beautiful," said Liu Jun, senior vice president and president, Consumer Business Group, Lenovo. "This year, we will keep pushing the limits of good design, balancing form and function, as you'll see exhibited in our super-thin, 16-inch laptop and all-in-one desktop. This unique blend of design and engineering sets us apart from competitors and gives consumers a new kind of entertainment and computing experience."
IdeaCentre A600 All-in-One Desktop
Lenovo brings consumers the next generation of desktop computing with the IdeaCentre A600 – Lenovo's first all-in-one desktop. The new, sleek IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one features a 21.5-inch frameless screen, and provides discerning space-conscious and style-conscious users a modern design that measures only one inch at its slimmest point, making it the slimmest all-in-one in the industry2.
For the entertainment enthusiast, the all-in-one offers a true Hi-Def experience featuring a 16:9 aspect ratio screen for cinema-like viewing and support for 1920x1080 full HD resolution delivering outstanding image quality. The integrated speaker system includes a bass sub-woofer and Dolby® Home Theatre™ audio certification, while the optional Blu-ray player completes the home cinema experience. Users can also take advantage of a digital TV tuner for watching and recording their favorite TV programs. Users can opt to include the Microsoft Vista Media Center for easy recording of TV programs and interactive navigation between videos, music and TV programs.
For gaming enthusiasts, Lenovo developed the first-of-its-kind 4-in-1 optional remote controller. It is the first to bring PC users the ability to play games using the remote control's 'motion drive' feature, which controls on-screen objects according to the movement of the remote.
Unlike competitor's remotes, the Lenovo 4-in-1 remote controller can also be used as a VOIP handset3 to make and receive phone calls over the Internet, similar to a typical cordless telephone. The remote also serves as a media center/TV remote, and with Microsoft Vista Media Center users can use the controller to operate DVDs, movies and TV. Additionally, the remote also functions as an "air mouse" so it can be used to operate the cursor on the screen, eliminating the inconvenience of using a wired mouse.
At the core of the all-in-one is a powerful desktop computer with choices of Intel® Core™2 Duo processors, optional ATI Radeon™ graphics card technology with DirectX10 support, up to 4GB of fast DDR3 memory for improved multitasking, and up to 1TB (1000GB) of hard drive space for storing hundreds of videos, music and other documents. Equipped with the latest high-performance mobile processor technology, the all-in-one runs whisper-quiet even when performing intensive tasks.
The IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one offers several connectivity options including high-speed WiFi, a 6-in-1 media card reader, side-mounted USB and FireWire ports with additional USB ports on the rear of the panel. The all-in-one also features VeriFace™ facial recognition technology which allows users to use his/her facial image as the logon password.
Pricing and Availability4
The new IdeaPad Y650, Y550, Y450 laptops and S10 netbook will be available beginning in March. Manufacturer suggested retail pricing (MSRP) for models starts at $1,199 for the IdeaPad Y650, $829 for the IdeaPad Y550 and Y450, and $349 for the IdeaPad S10 netbook. The IdeaCentre A600 all-in-one desktop will be available beginning in April with MSRP for models starting at $999.
About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
1Thinnest and lightest in the 16-inch laptop screen class, including offerings from Acer, Sony, HP and Lenovo.
2Compared with competitor existing all-in-ones from Apple, HP, Dell and Sony.
3VOIP functionality requires VOIP software which is freely available for download from a wide range of 3rd party vendors
4Prices do not include tax or shipping and are subject to change without notice. Reseller prices may vary. Price does not include all advertised features. All offers subject to availability. Lenovo reserves the right to alter product offerings and specifications at any time without notice.

• DIY external iPhone keyboards get a tad more practical

Eazo's Z70 wooden PC looks uncommonly natural, expensive

If Eazo's ultra-dark X70 was just too rich for your blood, we have all ideas the Z70 will really be out of reach. This luxurious tower -- coated in some sort of exotic rosewood and presumably sourced from the same jungle as Odeon's Sex Panther cologne -- includes a Core 2 Extreme QX9775 processor and lots of other components that we simply aren't privy too. The good news is that the internal water cooling system should prevent said CPU from lighting the wood on fire; the bad news is that a spill could eventually cause severe decomposition. You can't win for losin', can ya?

• Sony teases the VAIO P's keyboard and tracking nub

Creative sheds some hype on Zii 'stem cell computing'

Pretty big talk, Creative, for such a mysterious product. According to information gleaned from an email that's making the rounds, Zii is "revolutionary" -- in fact, it's about to change everything you know. Everything. The company says they've invested over 10 years, over one billion dollars, and 10,000 man-years (that's a lot of men! and years!) on "stem cell-like silicon that is able to grow and multiply into different solutions and ecosystems," which will "better lives beyond our imagination." Has your mind been blown yet? No? Just wait until you "discover incredible recession-friendly business opportunities that enable you to thrive and prosper." Just what we need in the midst of these turbulent times. Of course this begs us to ask the question: if life as we know it is over, couldn't they have spent a little time coming up with a name other than Zii? And might there be a better place to announce this epoch-making discovery than booth #30651 at CES?

• A-DATA launches XPG Dual SSD RAID enclosure

Microsoft pay-as-you-go patent application rejected

Sorry folks -- we know that you were looking forward to a future of "pay to play" computing, but it seems that Microsoft's application has been soundly dissed by the patent office. Reasons for the decision include the company's "occasional use of fuzzy terminology" and the fact that much of this stuff has already been patented. Of course, the decision can be appealed -- but for the time being, if you still want to pay monthly for a computer AT&T has a netbook for you.

• Video: Shouting at disk drive causes high latency, low morale

Intel Atom coming to larger notebooks?

Why does Intel have to be so darn stubborn? First it insists on only bundling the Atom processor with their own graphics (simultaneously breaking poor NVIDIA's heart), and then there's whole thing where it restricts the CPU to netbooks under 10.2-inches. But like all good things, this too might someday come to an end. According to Gadget Mix, HP is currently negotiating with the chipmaker with the intent of using the processor in notebooks 13-inches and larger. This isn't without precedent -- the Dell Mini 12 is Atom powered, after all, and there is certainly a market for folks who only need a notebook for web browsing and productivity apps -- but we'll see if people are willing to sacrifice performance without gaining portability.

• Panasonic set to unveil powerline networking prototypes aplenty at CES