AMD Quad FX

AMD has finally released the specifications of it's upcoming quad-core systems. It looks like Intel and AMD are both using old technologies in new ways to meet the "quad-core" expectation. Intel was merely going to graft two of their current Core 2 Duos together in one socket, while AMD is using a dual-core opteron variant to operate on an AM3 socket. "Dual-core?", you might be wondering; well yes; two dual-cores and two CPU sockets on one motherboard. This is absolutely nothing new on the market. Setups like this have been very common in server cases as well as a number of enthusiast platforms. Now, AMD seems to think the general public should get in on this move to more than one CPU on a motherboard.

Should Intel & AMD have waited a year before releasing these poor excuses for quad-cores?

Optimus Keyboard $1200

The Optimus Keyboard has been in the works for about two to three years now. A specific model of this keyboard, Optimus-103, will be released half-way through year 2007. The odd thing is that you'll be able to place an order beginning December 12th. Another odd tweak they have introduced into the Optimus series is a Black & White display instead of color. While it's true that the Black & White Organic Light Emitting Diode display will last longer, the Color Liquid Crystal Display was much more appealing to the eye. It was what gave the Optimus Keyboard it's popularity.

Will the Optimus Keyboard loose it's popularity by going Black & White?

Hundred Dollar Notebooks

With the help of massive mail-in-rebates a low-end laptop can now be purchased for just under one hundred dollars. The entire system initially costs close to seven hundred dollars. If laptops continue to sink in price, there may be more people purchasing them instead of desktop PC's.

Would you rather spend a small amount of money or large amount on a computer system?

Deadly Laptop Fires

Over the past four months or so there have been reports of laptop batteries overheating. In the beginning the incident was suggested to be isolated to just a few unlucky people. However, millions of customers began having similar issues resulting in a mass recall of all Sony lithium ion batteries. Recently, a recording was made of one of these recalled laptop batteries in an actual laptop.

Was Sony negligent in creating their lithium ion batteries?

Samsung Memory Modules

Samsung has developed a way to stack 60% more memory on a single chip. They achieved this by improving their chip sawing and wafer thinning solutions. The new process is now based on a 30μm design as opposed to the previous 45μm design. For those who enjoy their flash-based memory modules, this means there will be 16 flash chips on a single multi-chip package. Previously, the highest density of flash chips on a single multi-chip package was 10.

Will this new development make flash more attractive to the public?