The Race for a New Game Machine

The linked book review describes the untold story of Sony's partnership with IBM and Toshiba to design the cell processor chips that made the Playstation 3. It's an eye-opener of a tale.

In 2002, Microsoft approached IBM looking for a unique processor to power the xBox 360.  In short order, IBM was simultaneously working on two designs for the cell processor.  And Microsoft, which lined up additional silicon fab capacity, actually got their version out first to market.  With other launch problems, Sony was a year late out of the gate.  So much for partnerships.

The Race for a New Game Machine looks like a fascinating winter read for technologists.

Apple unloads iMacs Before January 15th

Good deal on a refurb iMac at Apple this week.

But why jump now when it's very likely that the iMac and Mac Pro desktops will be refreshed during MacWorld next month? My bet is on a quad Core Duo 2 option for the iMac.

$800 Price Point Yields Desktop Bargains

Six years ago this week, $800 bought you a HP 734nwith an Athlon 2400+ (2.0GHz), 512 MB memory, 60 GB hard drive, a DVD player and a CD-RW. No monitor or printer. Available at BestBuy. That was a "PC Deal" of the week for a column I wrote then.

Fast forward to this week at BestBuy, where the Deal of the Week in desktops is an HP is an HP Phoenix Special Edition with these specs:

• Quad-core AMD Phenom 9150e (1.8 GHz x 4, 65 watt)
• 5 GB memory
• Double layer DVD burner with LightScribe labeling
• nVidia 6150 graphics card
• 15-in-1 media reader
• Viata Home Premium
• 22" LCD monitor (5 ms response, speakers)
• HP Deskjet All-in-One printer

I'll post these "look backs" occasionally. You have to remember how much we used to spend on PCs and how little we got in today's technology. No inflation in our sector!

Happy Holidays Everyone

We are taking the weekend off today, and will be playing a re-run of the Geek Meet2008 show from Las Vegas in April.

We are sorry to tell everybody that Al_K passed away on December 21st 2008. Our condolences to his family we will all miss him.

See you all next week, have a safe and great New Years.