Monday, December 28, 2009

FTC’s Intel Anti-Trust Case Proposes Huge Changes to the Computer Industry

A close reading of the FTC’s contemplated relief for Intel’s alleged conduct shows the government mandating the most sweeping changes ever proposed as to how the Intel-compatible computer market works. No surprise that Intel would be hurt badly by these mandates and have to adjust. But these industry changes would also dramatically change the computer ecosystem, and the consequences would not be good for PC consumers.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 12-27-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 12-27-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Happy New Year Everyone!
AlaskaJoe

Numerous Reports: No Electronics on Random Flights

Lots of reports this morning that, as a result of Friday's attempted in-flight bombing, TSA will selectively ban electronics from the airplane cabin. Which of the following do you routinely check through security and carry on: cell phone, iPod, laptop, digital camera, DVD player, PSP, pager?

Here's the painful rub. Since you can't survive at the other end with, say, no cell phone or laptop on your business trip, you'll have to check your electronics as baggage. Note that airline boxes for checked luggage are a poor match for a laptop. And stolen electronics from luggage are a huge and under-reported problem. Many airlines will Fedex a suitcase to the destination for $80, but that $80 is a large fraction of the passenger airfare. And you'll probably have to clone your cellphone and carry the SIM card with you, assuming SIM cards are not considered electronic.

I cannot think of an action that will stop the U.S. economy dead in its tracks more effectively than grounding the economy's road warriors.

There is no good news in this story. However, Congress is at home. On January 18th, when Congresspeople try to return to Washington and have their Blackberries shunted off to the luggage hold, you may have a reconsideration of this policy.

Links From The Gregg Zone

1) Starting off the last Gregg Zone of the decade I thought it fitting to begin with a link that seems to me to be the best most promising since I started writing the zone. I like this so much in so many ways, when I first saw it last year it made me rethink my whole concept of technology saving us from ourselves. It is such a small and simple idea it makes me wonder why it took so long. Imagine a wind generator so simple it uses no propeller, no fancy bearings, no turbine. You can build one on your desk for between 10 and 15 dollars, with no special tooling, parts, or skills. Scaled up in size I could see these on the roof of my house, the roof of my car helping to recharge the batteries, almost anywhere. If the air flow can be transformed to liquid I can even imagine them using tides, water streams, everywhere. I think the concept of low tech being the next high tech is a very real possibility. http://www.scribemedia.org
2) Now keeping along the same low tech tinkering leading to new and fantastic high tech ideas. If you are not up on the latest digital sixth-sense concepts coming down the pike. You really need to check this out. I was very impressed to find that a home project type person can build this for about three hundred dollars, off the shelf. The other thing that caught my ear at the end of the first video was the inventor saying he planned to put out the software in open source next year. http://www.pranavmistry.com
3) With the new movie Avatar coming out last week I thought this link I ran across about how to watch it in 3D or Imax and avoid getting a headache or hangover from the special effects might be helpful. I watched a video on peoples impressions of the film and was struck by several saying they felt very disoriented leaving the theater. That got me looking around and I found this. http://blog.gsmarena.com
4) Keeping with my interest in medical advancements and reading about these guys and their anti-aging research, I'm wondering if I was just born a few years to early. Oh well luck of the draw and all that, but it looks like the next few generations may be around for a long time if there is anything to all this. http://blogs.zdnet.com
5) Geek link for the week something I read about coming from Ford the ability to turn your car into a wi-fi mobile hot spot. Allowing anyone in the car access from iPhone, to lap tops, sounds like a real boost for car pooling to me. http://news.cnet.com

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Sears has the Samsung PN50B430 50" 720p Plasma HDTV for $700 for in-store pickup only. Features 720p resolution, built-in ATSC/NTSC/QAM tuner, 2x HDMI inputs, 600Hz refresh rate, and a 2000000:1 dynamic contrast ratio.ENERGY STAR

Electronics Expo via Buy.com offers the Haier 47" 1080p Widescreen LCD HD Television, model no. HL47K, for $699 with free shipping. That's the lowest total price we could find by $15. Features include a 1920x1080 (1080p) native resolution, 1,500:1 contrast ratio, 500 cd/m² brightness, 6.5ms response time, three HDMI inputs, and VGA, component, and other video inputs.

Dell Home again offers the Samsung 46" 1080p Widescreen LCD HD Television, model no. LN46B500, for $797.99. Coupon code "BQ?GSVLT3DNGVC" cuts it to $777.99. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from two weeks ago and the lowest total price we could find by $21, although Fry's had it for $140 less back on Black Friday. Sales tax is added where applicable. It features a native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), 40,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 6ms response time, two HDMI inputs, and VGA, component, and other video inputs. Coupon expires January 2.

Newegg has the Rosewill RNX-N4 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless-N 2.0 Gigabit Router for $40 - coupon code EMCMNNT68 [Exp 01/01/2010] + $2 shipping = $32 shipped. It has decent user reviews, especially for a 'house brand' router.

Staples has the Toshiba Satellite L505D-S5996 15.6" 3GB Laptop for $480 with free shipping. AMD Turion II Dual-Core M500, 3GB, 320GB HD, DVD SuperMulti ATI Radeon 4100, Webcam and microphone, 802.11b/g/n, 6-Cell, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit AMD Turion™ II Dual-Core Mobile Processor M500the Internet 6-Cell lithium ion battery; up to 3 hours, 30 minutes Face-recognition software for added security Dimensions: 15.1"W x 10.2"H x 1.40"/1.55"D (6.2lbs) 1 year warranty


Newegg has the refurbished Linksys WPC600N-RM IEEE 802.11a/b/g, IEEE802.11n Draft 32-bit Cardbus Dual-Band Wireless-N Notebook Adapter WEP, WPA Personal, WPA2 Personal, WPA & WPA2 Enterprise for $15 with free shipping.

Western Digital 640GB SATA 3Gbps Internal Hard Drive for $63 + free shipping
SuperBiiz.com offers the Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 3.5" Internal Desktop Hard Drive, model no. WD6401AALS, for $69.99. Coupon code "SNOWMAN10" cuts it to $62.99. With free shipping, that's $0.10/GB

$16 SanDisk 8GB Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 Flash Drive for $16 + free shipping
Back at Abe's of Maine is the SanDisk 8GB Cruzer Micro USB 2.0 Flash Drive, model no. SDCZ36-008G-A11, for $15.95 with free shipping ($1.99/GB).

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Microsoft makes the best free anti-virus software

According to anti-malware testing group AV-Comparatives.org Microsoft Security Essentials got its top rating.

Previously it said that the software was very good at removing malware, but now it is saying that it is also the best in terms of performance too.

If you would like to read the report here it is. This link goes right to the .pdf.

I'm not sure I want to leave my computer security to Microsoft alone.

The article does go over a lot of things I say all of the time. As I was reading it, I read a little to Gregg and he asked "If they were listing to the show?"

AlaskaJoe

Monday, December 21, 2009

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 12-20-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 12-20-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Links From The Gregg Zone

1)Starting off the week an article I ran across promising to solve multiple problems in the environment puzzle. Seems there is a professor from Tarleton State University who is getting ready to set up a factory to turn cow manure into ethanol. His primary focus is not to make fuel, but rather to solve the pollution problem created from waste at dairy farms. This sounds great to me. http://www.wacotrib.com
2)I like these top ten, twenty, hundred list type sites, because they seem to cut to the chase. While I also like to look at the items that did not make the selection, if I am looking for a movie I missed, or researching the best inventions of the year, whatever the subject they just seem to condense the subject matter. This site is one of those titled “Ten Science Stories That Changed Our Decade” as usual I could add one or two, but these are all great, and make for a good read. http://io9.com
3)Speaking of science stories and advancements, here is one that we had to know was coming, though I personally did not expect to see it for another ten years, or more. Time really seems to fly in the technology world. The bionic eye will be starting animal trials in the next couple of years, human trials shortly after. At this time they are not looking to solve all eye problems, the person must have been born sighted, and it will not repair all optical problems, but we went from windows 98 to windows 7 in only 11 years, so who knows. http://thefutureofthings.com
4)I have to admit this kind of caught me off guard, I am refering to dark matter. I some how thought they were looking for it is space, I thought that was where it all was, out there someplace. So when I saw this article that they may have found some at the bottom of a mine in Minnesota, well lets just say I realized that I need to do some more reading. Anyway if this turns out to be the real deal, it will be a really big something, not sure what, but really big. http://www.minnpost.com/this_could_be_big_have_researchers_found_dark_matter_at_the_bottom_of_a_mine_in_minnesota
5)Wrapping things up with something geek related, it is often something sent to me by Troll, this is another of those "thanks Troll" weeks. And another of those top of the heap lists, this time the top five. Namely the top five worst tech products of 2009, I feel lucky to have avoided every one of them. http://blogs.techrepublic.com.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Google testing its own phone, 2010 release projected.

Google Inc. is letting employees around the world test what is expected to be its first branded phone ahead of a planned release next year.

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

$7 8 Rayovac 4.0 AA Rechargeable Batteries for $7 + free shipping
Adorama via Amazon.com offers two Rayovac 4.0 AA Rechargeable Battery 4-Packs for $7.49 with free shipping.

Staples offers the $160 Seagate BlackArmor 110 1TB NAS for $160 + free shipping $0.16/GB). That's $20 under our November mention and the lowest total price we could find by $40. Sales tax is added where applicable. This network attached storage device is designed to provide centralized storage and data backup for up to 20 PCs, enables automatic data mirroring with RAID 1 configuration, features two USB 2.0 ports, event email notification, can function as an FTP server for remote file access, and can stream media to DLNA-compliant devices and computers running iTunes software.

$100 AOC 22" 1080p Widescreen LCD Display for $100 + free shipping
Buy.com offers the AOC 21.5" 1080p Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. 2236VW, for $129.99 with free shipping. Pay via PayPal and it drops to $99.99. native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), 60,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² brightness, 5 ms response time, and both DVI and VGA input. Deal ends December 19.

Newegg has the refurbished Netgear WNR834B RangeMax NEXT Wireless Router with draft 802.11n support for $45 - coupon code EMCMNMW37 [Exp 12/24] + $2 shipping = $27 shipped. A good price for a refurb, considerin these sell new for $70 or more. This is a firewalled router/access point. See Specs.

Dell Home again offers the Dell S2409W 24" 1080p Widescreen LCD Monitor for $279. Add it to your cart and it falls to $189. With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find by $37, although it was $10 less three days ago (since expired). Sales tax is added where applicable. It features a native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² brightness, one HDMI input, and DVI-D and VGA inputs.

FRY's Viewsonic vx2433 24" Widescreen LCD Full 1080P HDMI DVI VGA inputs

Refurbished Netgear 802.11n Wireless 4-Port Router for $25 + $8 s&h
TigerDirect.com offers the factory-refurbished Netgear 802.11n Wireless 4-Port Broadband Router, model no. WNR2000-100NA, for $24.99 plus $7.99 for shipping. Although that's $11 over our August mention, it's still $46 under the lowest total price we could find for a new, factory-sealed unit. It features parental controls, an internal antenna, and more. A 3-month Netgear warranty applies

Monday, December 14, 2009

In Shift, U.S. Talks to Russia on Internet Security - Series - NYTimes.com

I referred to this NY Times article on the show talking about the US and Russia possibly agreeing on a Cyberwar arms treaty....

Sunday, December 13, 2009

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 12-13-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 12-13-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) My opening link this week was sent to me from Earl combines several favorite topics, greening up cities, saving money and resources, creativity, and food. We are talking about green; and edible building roofs. While I prefer full blown vertical farming, and I still think that will be our future, this is a great way to get started. This is a trend worldwide now, and not just roofs, I found several sites on green walls to match. http://www.sustainweb.org
2) This is a site for those who like online video clips, this is a list of the top 100 iconic internet video clips, with an additional 14 sent in as obvious omissions. I spent a little time here saw quite a few I remembered and several that were totally new, at least to me. http://www.urlesque.com
3) This is a follow up on one I have posted twice already; I just think it is so cool. “Journey to the Center of the Earth” was a movie I liked and this always makes me think of that. This is the latest on the giant crystal caves in Mexico National Geographic is making a film, and including footage from the caves. This is an article about the shooting of the segment. http://www.ironammonite.com
4) This is an article about one of the more disturbing aspects of the internet, at least for me. I listened to an interview with the author so I just had to post something on it. Seems there are people out there selling political influence via email, using our names and info without our knowledge. Using virtual game money, and surveys to entice us, when we click the submit button for the survey we filled out to get virtual money to buy a machine gun to play Mafia on face book it sends an email to our state senator with out our knowledge or consent. http://www.businessinsider.com
5) For my geek link of the week, I could not resist this. It is about that new fangled thing called the internet, what at the time was a breaking news T.V. video segment, about new technology. Chuckle, chuckle, they had no clue what was coming. But then, it causes one to reflect that sometime in the future they will be looking at our technology of today saying with a chuckle they really had no clue. http://www.examiner.com

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

HANNspree 32 inch LCD HDTV (1080p) $349.99 Free Shipping , Dec.Newegg has the HANNspree 1920x1080 @ 1080p; 4 HDMI; HD tuner

Dell Vostro 220s Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Desktop PC w/ 22" LCD for $439 + free shipping
Dell Small Business again has the Dell Vostro 220s Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Slim Tower Desktop PC with the Dell E2210H 21.5" Widescreen LCD Monitor for $439 with free shipping. That's $314 off and tied... (more)
Hotness: Posted 2 days 10 hr ago



Refurbished HP Pavilion p6110y Intel Dual Core 2.6GHz PC for $349 + free shipping
JR.com offers the factory-refurbished HP Pavilion p6110y Pentium Dual-Core 2.6GHz Desktop PC, model no. NY429AA, for $349 with free shipping. 6GB RAM, 640GB hard drive, Gigabit Ethernet, dual layer DVD burner with LightScribe, front-side USB and audio ports, 15-in-1 memory card reader, and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. A 90-day HP warranty applies.

Newegg has the Asus EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB HDCP PCI-E Video Card (Low-Profile) for a low $19.99 Free Shipping after rebate. Tax in CA, NJ, TN, PR.
This video card is both fanless (silent) and low-profile. This makes it a perfect graphics card to use in an HTPC (or home theater PC) build.





Synaps 24" 1080p Widescreen LCD Display from $155 + free shipping
TigerDirect.com offers the Synaps 24" 1080p Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. 11010230Y3, for $159.99. Pay via Google Checkout and the price drops to $154.99. With free shipping, that's $5 under our November mention and the lowest total price we could find by $32. It features a native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 300cd/m² brightness, 5ms response time, and both DVI and VGA inputs.

Foldable USB Keyboard for $10 + free shipping
eForCity.com offers this Foldable USB Keyboard for $10.99 with free shipping. Add it to your cart and apply coupon code "EFWS120745" to cut the price to $9.99. That's $23 off and the lowest total price we could find.

Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router = $17 w/ code EMCMNML72

Newegg has the Cavalry CAXM Series 1TB eSATA & USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for a low $69.99 after rebate. $1.99 Shipping. Tax in CA, NJ, TN, PR.
Includes eSATA cable and bracket

Dell Home has the Dell S2409W 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor for a low $189.00 Free 2nd Day Shipping. (Be sure to select the 2nd Day Shipping). Tax in most.
1920x1080; 5ms; 1000:1 contrast ratio; 300nits; HDMI, DVI, VGA; 3yr warranty

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Microsoft Discontinues Windows 7 Family Pack, Claiming Sellout

You can still get it but it will cost you more than before. - Earl

Mozilla Releases Thunderbird 3 to Public

Available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, the long-overdue Thunderbird 3 introduces several hefty new features and some long-needed improvements, including an overhauled search and message indexing, - Earl

Sunday, December 06, 2009

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 12-06-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 12-06-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit OEM $166 at eWiz.com
eWiz.com has the Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit OEM System Builder's DVD for $171 - $5 off with coupon code SANTA5 [Exp 12/7] = $166 with free shipping.
· Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit 1-Pack = $166 shipped w/ SANTA5 [Exp 12/7]
· Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack = $135 shipped w/ SANTA5 [Exp 12/7]
· Windows 7 Professional 32-bit 1-Pack = $130 shipped w/ SANTA5 [Exp 12/7]
· Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack = $95 shipped w/ SANTA5 [Exp 12/7]
· Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 1-Pack = $95 shipped w/ SANTA5 [Exp 12/7]



2494SW 24" LCD + Logitech MK300 $190 at Dell Business

Dell Business has the Samsung 2494SW 24" LCD + Logitech Desktop MK300 Bundle for $280 - $90 off with coupon code LCR4MW$0BGM3MG [1100 uses] = $190 with free shipping. It sports a full 1080p resolution, 50000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and built-in speakers.


100 Pack (2x50) Memorex 16x DVD+R Media Spindle Kit $20 at Buy.com
Buy.com has the 100 Pack (2x50) Memorex 16x DVD+R Media Spindle Kit for $20 with free shipping


Dell Vostro 220s Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Desktop PC w/ 22" LCD
$439+ free shipping
This PC features an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz dual-core processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB Serial ATA hard drive, DVD-ROM drive, Gigabit

VoIP / Skype Mini Flexible Microphone 2-Pack for $5 + free shipping
eForCity.com offers this VoIP / Skype Mini Flexible Microphone 2-Pack for $6.99. Coupon code "EFWS113060" cuts it to $4.99.features a 3.5mm plug that fits the "microphone in" jack on most computers. Deal ends December 7.

ViewSonic VX2433wm 24" Widescreen 1080p LCD $170 at eCost
eCost has the refurbished ViewSonic VX2433wm 24" Widescreen 1080p LCD Monitor for $150 + $20 shipping = $170 shipped. [
· Full HD 1080p display with 1920x1080 resolution, 5ms response time
· Stereo speakers with SRS WOW HD, 20,000:1 dynamic contast ratio

Links from the Gregg Zone

I need to start with an apology to anyone who sent me links this week, I had so many and I kept adding them to my bookmark folder I lost track of who sent what. If I did not use something you sent this week, maybe next week. But, thank you one and all.

1) Starting again with a green car technology that looks promising, and seemingly in the near future. This is one that was new to me, called the Wave Disk Engine and Electricity Generator. Just a little over my head in trying to understand the concept, but sure looks like a player in the hybrid market. It improves the standard by a factor of five. http://blogs.zdnet.com
2) As long as we are talking cars, how fast do you think a car is capable of? I was surprised to find this article about a British team with a car they expect to shatter the land speed record with, they are talking about exceeding 1000 mph. I am not sure what practical use there is for such a machine, but I do think it is very cool. http://blogs.zdnet.com
3) This is one of those new so called technological advancements in the way we do things that I find personally disturbing. Kind of falls into that category of generational shifting I often talk about. It just seems to be another step in the direction of news media morphing into something I have more and more difficulty relating to. I miss what I think of as real news reporting, news departments of the past would assign a story to a reporter who would spend a month or two digging into the issue, think Watergate. Those days are gone, I hope this is not the future, but due to cost savings I fear it is right around the corner. http://www.popsci.com

4) Speaking of things that disturb me coming into the mainstream, granted this is in England, George Orwell land. But, these things have a habit of spreading, might take a long time to catch on here, but we seem to be heading in this direction. Only time will tell http://news.bbc.co.uk
5) For my geek link of the week I found this with memory storage growing at such an impressive rate for the last few years the idea of extreme advancements might seem like a dream. This may wake everyone up, and soon. New and improved coming soon to your local computer store. http://www.physorg.com

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Windows 7 family pack starting to sell out | Beyond Binary - CNET News

"'The Windows 7 Family Pack was introduced as a limited time offer while supplies last in select geographies,' Microsoft said in a statement. 'Response has been very positive and in some cases, the offer has sold out. '"
If you want to take advantage of this offer you better go for it before it's all gone!

AlaskaJoe

Windows 7 10-in-1 Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition Sold on USB Flash Drives in China

Windows 7 pre-loaded on USB Flash drives for sale in CHina as Windows 7 10-in-1 Ultimate Steve Ballmer Signature Edition"

Botnet continues massive H1N1 malware campaign

Botnet continues massive H1N1 malware campaign :: Hack In The Box :: Keeping Knowledge Free: "A massive spam campaign that poses as a message from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) asking people to register for H1N1 vaccinations remains a big problem"

Friday, December 04, 2009

Patch Tuesday - Microsoft Security Bulletin Advance Notification for December 2009

It's Parch Tuesday this coming Tuesday and MS has some important fixes. Microsoft is lining up a fix for a zero-day vulnerability in Internet Explorer as part of the decade's last ever Patch Tuesday update.Tuesday is due to bring six bulletins, three of which are critical. The critical fixes address flaws in Windows and Office as well as IE. The Office update covers flaws in Project, Word and Works 8.5.

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

McAfee uncovers riskiest domains | Security - CNET News

"McAfee's third annual 'Mapping the Mal Web' report, released Wednesday, looks at riskiest and safest domains across the globe."

This is a reason computers get infected with Malware and Virus. The generic and widely used .com domain itself isn't much safer, according to McAfee, jumping from ninth last year to second this year in riskiness, with 32.2 percent of its sites potentially hazardous to your PC's health.

I can't tell people how important it is to keep your computer's security up to date. As long as you haven't Disable User Account Control in Windows Vista or Windows 7 you are mush safer. (You still need to be careful) However if you are running WindowsXP or older windows you are in danger all of the time. Another advantage of Linux, Security :)

Interesting report you should look at it. You might stop going on the Internet! :(

AlaskaJoe

Sunday, November 29, 2009

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 11-29-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 11-29-09. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

newegg.com offers the Lenovo IdeaCentre K230 Intel Core 2 Quad 2.33GHz Desktop PC, model no. 53594GU, for $449.99 with free shipping. Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz quad-core processor, 6GB RAM, 640GB Serial ATA hard drive, DVD burner, open PCIe x 16 card slot, Gigabit Ethernet, memory card reader, and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. (It's eligible for a free Windows 7 upgrade from Lenovo.)


Hitachi 1TB SATA 3Gbps Internal Hard Drive for $65
+ free shipping
newegg.com offers the Hitachi Deskstar 7K1000.B 1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. HD31000IDK/7, for $64.99 with free shipping 16MB cache and runs at 7200 rpm.


Intel Core i5-750 2.66GHz LGA1156 Quad-Core Processor $179.99 Free Shipping ,
SuperBiiz.com (eWiz.com
)
has the Intel Core i5-750 2.66GHz Socket LGA 1156 Quad-Core Processor (RETAIL) for $179.99 Free Shipping after Coupon Code: BFCPU20 (Exp 11/30). Tax in CA. For those lucky enough to live near a Micro Center, get it for $149.99

eWiz.com has the Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit OEM System Builder's DVD for $171 - 10% off with coupon code BLACKFRIDAY [Exp 11/30] = $171 with free shipping. Ultimate includes everything that's found in Home and Professional editions in one package. [Compare]
Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit 1-Pack = $171 shipped w/ BLACKFRIDAY [Exp 11/30]
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit 1-Pack = $125 shipped w/ BLACKFRIDAY [Exp 11/30]
Windows 7 Professional 32-bit 1-Pack = $125 shipped w/ BLACKFRIDAY [Exp 11/30]
Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack = $94 shipped w/ BLACKFRIDAY [Exp 11/30]
Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit 1-Pack = $94 shipped w/ BLACKFRIDAY [Exp 11/30]

NewEgg Black Friday Deals good until 11/29



Dell Small Business offers the Dell PowerEdge T100 Pentium Dual-Core 2.7GHz Server (pictured) for $249 plus $25 for shipping
It comes with an Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5400 2.7GHz processor, 1GB RAM, 160GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive, DVD-ROM, and Gigabit Ethernet. No OS is included.

7-Port USB 2.0 "Squid" Hub with built-in cables for $9 + free shipping
Shop4Tech.com offers this 7-Port "Squid" USB 2.0 Hub in Black for $8.99.

Toshiba Satellite L505-S5984 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz 16" Widescreen Notebook for $399.99. With $14.99 for shipping,


CompUSA has the Synaps 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor (11010230Y3) for $160 + $0 shipping= $160 shipped

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Links from the Gregg Zone!

1) Just to start off let me say if you recently sent me an email with links I apologize for not reading them yet. I am in Southern California for Thanksgiving, and missing most of my usual connections, that coupled with spending a lot of time doing other things here may be reflected in my show contributions this week. But, to start off I ran across this article about potential battery news. They are claiming batteries that last twenty years, discharge like a capacitor, and keep working after being shot up with a machine gun. http://www.greentechmedia.com

2) We all know how I love a conspiracy, and given my tendency’s to gravitate toward the edge of the zone. You have to know I have been following this one with interest, there are some very credible people asking about the possibility that the Large Hadron Collider is being sabotaged from the future. This article is from Time magazine so you know someone must be taking it with more than a grain of salt. http://www.time.com

3) With all these stories about the air lines cutting back on services, when I saw this I thought I would toss it in for a little balance. This seems just a little over the top in the other direction. If you are looking for an air line that offers you over the top amenities this may be for you. http://englishrussia.com

4) This is an article about something I had not heard of, but does not surprise me; it was just flying under my radar. When I saw the article I thought this has probably been a problem for ever, I just never had an occasion to think about it. Anyway I just thought it may hit others the same way. If you commit a crime while sleep walking are you, or should you be responsible? http://www.newscientist.com

5) Geek link for the week is a glimpse of what Intel has on their radar for your future, the idea makes me a little nervous, but then the world of 2020 promises to be way different than today, so why not. http://www.popsci.com

Friday, November 27, 2009

Five ways to lose your identity (and wallet) this holiday season

"The growth of holiday hackers has annually prompted security analysts, identity theft awareness groups and various government agencies to come up with lists of precautions that consumers can take to avoid becoming a victim of online fraud. Such lists can prove a benefit to consumers, but unfortunately some people ignore it."
If your going shopping online this holiday season, (and who doesn't?) Maybe you should read this article.

AlaskaJoe

Symantec Online Store Hacked - User passwords and product serial numbers potentially exposed - Softpedia

"A self-proclaimed grey-hat hacker has located a critical SQL injection vulnerability in a website belonging to security giant Symantec. The flaw can be leveraged to extract a wealth of information from the database including customer and admin login credentials, product serial numbers, and possibly credit card information."
What Anti-Virus do you use? Other than slowing your PC down and not protecting it, Why are you running Symantec?

AlaskaJoe

Ancient Martians were carried to Earth: Scientific American

The above link is from Scientific American and not some weirdo tabloid.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Conquering Black Friday with Technology

How Twitter, iPhone apps, Facebook, and web sites can alert and focus your Friday technology hunt for the best deals.

In the meantime, my best to all the On Computers show team and all the listeners.

-- Pete

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Thanksgiving PC Deals

From Gizmodo, here are the PC deals in alphabetical order for this Thanksgiving Weekend (and with a tip of the hat to Earl for his post below which I couldn't edit):

Acer Aspire One 10.1" Netbook w/ 1GB RAM, 160GB HD, Windows XP - $149.99 * [Office Max]

Acer Aspire One Black Intel Atom N270(1.60GHz) Netbook $189.99 [Newegg]


Acer Netbook 10.1" Netbook w/Intel 1.6GHz Atom Processor N270 - $199.99 [Office Depot]

Acer Aspire 15.6" Widescreen Notebook Computer w/AMD Athlon X2 Dual-Core Processor L310, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $379.99 [Office Depot]

Acer 17.3" Blue Laptop w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive and Windows 7 Premium (Online Only) - $498.00 [Wal-Mart]

ASUS Eee PC 1005HA-PU1X-BK 10.1-Inch Black Netbook - $349.99 [Amazon]

Compaq Presario Dual-Core Desktop w/ 3GB RAM, 500GB HD, Windows 7 - $239.99 * [Office Max]

Compaq CQ4010F Desktop Computer w/AMD Sempron LE-1300 Processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive - $229.99 [Office Depot]

Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive - $179.99 [Best Buy]

Compaq Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive - $229.99 [Best Buy]

Compaq Presario AMD LE-1300 Desktop w/18.5" Monitor - $329.99 [Office Depot]

Dell 10.1" Inspiron Mini 10V Netbook w/Atom 1.6Ghz Processor N270 - $249.00 [Dell]

Dell 10.1" Netbook w/Intel Atom Processor, 1GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive - $379.99 [Best Buy]

Dell 14" Inspiron 14 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $599.00 [Dell]

Dell 14" Studio XPS 13 Notebook w/Intel P7450 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive - $999.00 [Dell]

Dell 15.6" Inspiron 15 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $549.00 [Dell]

Dell 15.6" Studio 15 Notebook w/Intel T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive - $499.00 [Dell]

Dell 15.6" Studio Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive - $599.98 [Staples]

Dell 16" Studio XPS 16 Notebook w/Intel P7450 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive - $999.00 [Dell]

Dell 17" Studio 17 Notebook w/Intel T4300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive - $749.00 [Dell]

Dell 20" Studio XPS 8000 Desktop w/Intel i5-750 CPU, 6GB RAM, 750GB Hard Drive - $899.00 [Dell]

Dell Desktop PC w/AMD Athlon X2 215 Processor, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive, 20-inch LCD Monitor - $499.98 [Staples]

Dell Inspiron 537s Desktop w/Intel Pentium Dual-Core E5300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $349.00 [Dell]

Dell Inspiron 537s w/Intel E5300 Processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/20" LCD Monitor - $499.00 [Dell]

Dell Inspiron w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $499.00 [Dell]

Dell Studio Desktop w/Intel E7500 Processor, 6GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/18.5" LCD Monitor - $699.00 [Dell]

Dell Studio Desktop w/Intel Q8300 Processor, 6GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive, w/20" LCD Monitor - $749.00 [Dell]

Dell Studio Slim Desktop w/Intel E5400, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive, w/18.5" LCD Monitor - $599.00 [Dell]

Free Software w/Purchase of Computer - Free [Office Depot]

HP Notebook Computer G60-508US w/Intel Celeron Processor 900 - $299.99 [Office Depot]

HP Notebook Computer G71-343US With Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T6600 - $449.99 [Office Depot]

10.1" HP Mini 110-1037NR Pink Netbook - $339.95 [Amazon]

10.1" HP Mini 110-1109NR White Netbook (Windows XP) - $199.99 [Amazon]

13.3" HP Pavilion DM3-1030US Silver Laptop - $499.99 [Amazon]
13.3" HP Pavilion dm3z AMD Neo Laptop w/4GB RAM, 320GB HD - $529.99 [HP]

HP 15.6" Laptop w/Intel Celeron Processor 900, 3GB RAM, 160GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $299.98 * [Staples]

HP 15.6" Notebook w/Intel Processor, 3GB Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # G60-519WM) - $298.00 * [Wal-Mart]

HP 15.6" Laptop w/Intel Pentium Processor T4300, 4GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $399.98 * [Staples]

HP 15.6" Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 6GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $599.99 [Best Buy]

HP 15.6" Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual Core Processor M500, 8GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $699.99 [Best Buy]

15.6" HP Pavilion dv6t Quad Edition Laptop w/i7 Processor & HD LED Display - $999.99 [HP]

HP 17" Notebook w/4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # G71-329WM) - $398.00 [Wal-Mart]

HP 17.3" Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $599.98 [Staples]

HP Desktop AMD X4 Quad Core, 8GB Memory, 1TB Hard Drive w/20" Monitor, HP Deskjet DJ350 Color Printer & Windows 7 Home Premium - $499.97 [Best Buy]

HP Pavilion Desktop P6229PG w/20" Widescreen LCD Monitor - $499.99 [Office Depot]

HP Pavilion Elite e9250t w/Intel i5 Processor, 6GB RAM & 500GB HD - $799.99 [HP]

HP Pavilion p6280t Desktop w/Quad Core Processor, 6GB RAM & 640GB HD - $569.99 [HP]

HP Pavilion All-In-One 19" Desktop w/4GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, MS213 AMD - $598.00 [Wal-Mart]

HP Pavilion Desktop w/AMD Processor, 3GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, w/20" Monitor (Model # P6243w-b) - $398.00 * [Wal-Mart]

HP Pavilion Slimline s5210t Desktop w/Dual Core Processor 640GB HD & 3GB RAM - $349.99 [HP]

HP Pavillion Slimline s5220f Desktop Computer w/Intel Pentium Processor E5300, 4GB RAM, 640GB Hard Drive - $369.99 [Office Depot]

HP Pavillion Slimline Intel E5300 Desktop w/20" Monitor - $519.99 [Office Depot]

Macbook 13.3" Notebook w/2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive, w/$150 Gift Card - $999.99 [Best Buy]

10.1" Samsung N110-12PBK Netbook - $326.95 [Amazon]

Sony 15" Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB Memory, 320GB Hard Drive, Windows 7 - $399.99 [Best Buy]

Sony 15" Laptop w/Intel Dual Core Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, Sony Headphones, Built-In Blu-ray, Blu-ray Movie - $479.97 [Best Buy]

Sony 15.5" Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 Processor, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $649.98 [Staples]

13.3" Toshiba Satellite T135-S1307 TruBrite 13.3-Inch Ultrathin Black Laptop - $699.99 [Amazon]

Toshiba 15.6" Widescreen Notebook w/AMD Turion II Dual-Core Processor M500, 3GB RAM, 320GB Hard Drive - $469.99 [Office Depot]

Toshiba 16" Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 3GB DDR3 Memory, 250GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) - $399.99 [Best Buy]

Toshiba 16" Laptop w/Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 4GB DDR3 Memory, 320GB Hard Drive (Model # L505-S5984) w/Printer and Case - $499.97 [Best Buy]

Toshiba 17" Notebook w/AMD Turion II M500, 3GB RAM, 250GB Hard Drive - $499.99 [Office Depot]

Toshiba L505-S5998 T4300 4GB RAM, 320GB HD Notebook - $399.99 [Office Max]

Wacom Intuos3 6x8" Pen Tablet - $199.99 [Amazon]

eMachines 15.6" Notebook w/AMD Processor, 2GB Memory, 160GB Hard Drive (Model # EME627) - $198.00 * [Wal-Mart]

eMachines Desktop w/AMD Athlon Processor, 3GB RAM, 320GB HD, Windows 7, w/18.5" LCD Monitor and HP Deskjet Printer - $299.97 [Best Buy]