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News You Can Use
Here is some of the latest news that pertains to CPU Help with regard
to the Current Events of the computer industry.
1. Most of the notebooks that CPU
Help sells will now have ExpressCard slots. These are industry
standard, just not widely supported by many card makers as yet. Be sure
your model matches what you may need. Our N4021 has both ExpressCard
and PCMCIA. ExpressCard info from PCMCIA is available at
http://www.expresscard.org/web/site/
2. Latest Microsoft Vista news (from Tom's Hardware
Guide, THG)-- What investors noted today
was another ominous resurrection: specifically, of the term "on track"
which Microsoft hauls out of its marketing closet whenever it needs to
explain a delay, as in "Vista is on track to deliver in the first half
of 2007." Today, Microsoft co-president Kevin Johnson would not even
entirely confirm a second half date. Sources quote Johnson as saying,
while Vista remains "on track" for 2H 2007, it will only ship "when the
product is ready." Later during the meeting, Reuters quoted Johnson as
slipping that commitment even further, stating, "We will ship Windows
Vista when it is available."
...
Investors, many of whom are actually there listening to Microsoft, got
the message. Trading in Microsoft shares plunged in value almost
immediately thereafter, with late afternoon value on the NASDAQ exchange
down almost 2%, to under $24 per share.
3. Biggest hardware news--AMD/ATI merger. ...Today, ATI sees the
merger with AMD as critical to finally being able to wrest control of
the entire PC, to be able to shape all of it to suit its architectural
goals, making compromises with no one. It sees this move as potentially
elevating the role of the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) to a position alongside the CPU
(Central Processing Unit) in both
priority and stature, such that the chip responsible for processing any
given task may become inconsequential to most users. For AMD, the merger
is an acquisition of a key element of intellectual property that a
platform producer would need. It enables the co-opting of the GPU for
purposes neither company might have been able to undertake, even acting
jointly. But that's just a bonus, an extra payoff that may come after
AMD integrates the GPU into its platform strategy. (Also from THG)
4. Motion Tablet
PCs are now available! The Lead time
for an order is 12-15 days. There will be a price break if
you purchase over 25 units.
These are great tools for the healthcare industry -- the conversion from
handwriting to text and dictation to text using Dragon Speaking is a
great savings and convenience. Also,
retail--furniture stores, car lots, etc, any place that has a number of
products where the salesman has to look up information or price.
Keep your salesman
with the customers and increase sales. Check
Tablet PCs out HERE!
5. Info on SATA 3G drives-- It really looks
as though the SATA 3G drives were
rushed to market as there are definitely issues with many onboard controllers.
Seagate's default is to ship SATA 3G drives with the jumper installed
that makes them SATA 1.5 drives. Seagate and the drive controller
manufacturers know that there are stability issues and are working on them.
Until the fix is complete, Seagate recommends that you use all SATA drives
as 1.5. (Seagate has even disabled the ssc function in firmware which
is needed to fully take advantage of the speed increase.)
6. Intel says SCSI is done.
But IS IT?!? It looks as though none of their new 5xxx series
boards have onboard SCSI--neither do the new chassis. Seagate made
the decision to
support SAS/SATA, which should improve chassis availability when they
get rolling since SAS and SATA use the same hotswap bays and controllers.
However, SAS is available in 37GB & 73GB. The 143GB drives are barely available
and the
300GB is still a glimmer. Also, SAS drives are cheaper than 15k SCSI
drives, but quite a bit more than 10k SCSI drives.
Two new chassis--SC5299-e and SC5400 replace the SC5295 and SC5300. Just
checking...Intel has certified some SCSI RAID controllers, but with the
only option being to use the fixed drive bays which we believe will hurt SCSI
system sales. It would not be a surprise if Intel has to backtrack and
bring out a SCSI hotswap bay.
7. CPU Help Notebook Update
N4021-RTS (Dual core value RTS)--15.4", 60GB, 512MB, Wireless 802.11abg for
only $1299 & FREE 2nd
Day SHIPPING!
N5015 (replaced N5011)--17" Loaded notebook. Very sweet and
should be available on our site soon.
Check it out HERE!
8. We are currently using a Viewsonic monitor MR2403 for our black LCD
Monitor w/
speakers. The warranty is three years parts and labor including panel
covered by ViewSonic. The detail warranty information is available at
http://www.viewsonic.com/support/warranty.htm
We can only offer a 30-day DOA return for credit and replacement.
Beyond 30-days from invoice date, end user will need to contact ViewSonic directly and send monitors to ViewSonic. Customer returns and
replacement are serviced by Viewsonic.
9. More BIG hardware news!
High end CPU prices have dropped. Both Intel and
AMD dropped pricing on higher end CPUs, however, the lower end CPUs did not
show any price changes. Some of the dual core CPUs are now cheaper than the single core
CPUs.
We will try to keep you up to date as the news becomes available.
Please feel free to check back often - Have a Great Day!
CPU Help, ltd. - Kansas City, MO 64119
http://www.cpuhelp.net
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