Hardware

A British organization has produced what appears to be the cheapest fully-functional computer ever made. The device, made by the Raspberry Pi Foundation, is the size of a USB stick and costs just $25. The computer, which runs the open source Linux ... system, has a particularly creative design. In effect it's a silicon chip attached to three sockets: an HDMI socket to connect to a monitor or TV screen, a USB slot to plug in a keyboard, and a memory card slot for storage. While it's small enough to carry anywhere, it carries out the same functions as a full-fledged desktop PC. $25 Pocket PC ... (view more)

Last week's report that thousands of U.S. libraries were set to receive Kindle eBooks marked a major step ahead for digital reading devices. But a new app-based copy of a book written by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is not only changing the ... approach to commercialized reading, but also the very definition of what we consider a "book" to be. Push Pop Press, a company established by former Apple employees Kimon Tsinteris and Mike Matas, has published an app version of "Our Choice," the popular 2009 book about global warming. Apple Features Alter Book Layout The app is said to take full ... (view more)

Amazon and libraries across the United States have partnered up in offering a new service that will allow Americans to borrow ebooks for the online retailer's popular e-reader, Kindle. Approximately 11,000 libraries are involved in the project, ... which is being called the Kindle Lending Library. Amazon says its new service will be administered by OverDrive, a digital information provider that currently loans ebook services to the thousands of libraries involved in the project. OverDrive is also responsible for similar services rendered to owners of Sony's Reader device. eBook Customization ... (view more)

Canadian firm Research in Motion (RIM) has finally released its much-hyped PlayBook tablet , a new rival to Apple's iPad. Critics, however, are unsure of Playbook's offerings. The PlayBook boasts a number of features that are meant to set it apart ... from the pack. These include a proprietary operating system (OS) designed to maximize multitasking, and a touch screen navigation system. Tethering Options a Double-Edged Sword It's the PlayBook's many tethering options -- which connect the device seamlessly to RIM's BlackBerry -- that really distinguishes the tablet from those offered by ... (view more)

With Research in Motion (RIM), Dell, and of course Apple all releasing their own variations on the tablet computer, it seems like slate devices are here to stay. But is there anything else trendy enough to knock off the tablet? Acer's new Iconia ... "touchbook" might actually indicate the emergence of a new line of dual-touchscreen devices. The Acer Iconia-6200 is now available to American and Canadian consumers via Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Coming in at a thunderous $1,200, it isn't cheap, but with a pair of 14-inch displays and a whole lot of power, it is very, very cool. Dynamic Touchscreen ... (view more)

Less than a month before its launch date, we now know a little bit more about the PlayBook tablet from Canadian tech firm Research in Motion (RIM). PlayBook Tablet Similar to Apple's iPad 2 According to recent reports, the device will be smaller ... than Apple's iPad 2 but will come in at a similar entry price: $499. The 7-inch PlayBook, which is set to launch on April 19, actually comes in several versions, each packing a different price point. For instance, the 16GB version ships for $499, the 32GB for $599, and a 64GB version for $699. When it comes to pricing, RIM's device isn't much ... (view more)

Fujitsu may not be the first brand name one thinks of when asked about prominent PC makers, but that could change with the announcement of its upcoming Stylistic Q550, which will be one of the very first Windows 7 tablet computers to hit retail ... stores. In a marketplace currently gobbling up tablet devices (to the tune of 4.5 million units during the last financial quarter), Fujitsu has a real opportunity to one-up big name competitors like Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Toshiba. Fujitsu Q550: Functional, Business-Savvy Hardware According to Fujitsu, the Q550 -- which is reportedly being built for a ... (view more)

Hard drive manufacturer Seagate has launched a 3 terabyte (TB) internal hard drive. It's the first drive of its kind (and size) that can work smoothly with Windows XP. For the record, 3 TB is equivalent to 3,000 GB (gigabytes), which is an awful lot ... of information. 2.1 TB Size Limitation Imposed in the 1980s By default, Windows XP and earlier systems have an internal limitation that can only read hard drives that are smaller than 2.1TB. That's because of a decision in the early 1980s to place a limit on what's known as the logical block address, which is the system that decides where to ... (view more)

Days after Fujitsu unveiled a business-class Windows 7 tablet computer, BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) on Tuesday provided more information about its own slate device, the PlayBook. Most notable about RIM's New York City presentation was ... the announcement of a firm launch date for the hardware: April 10. PlayBook Uses QNX Operating System, Linux-Based PlayBook doesn't use Android nor does it employ Windows 7. Instead, its operating system is called QNX, and it's largely unproven next to the current market competition. QNX has been around for quite some time (1982, to be exact) and ... (view more)

Thought you knew netbooks? Hardware producer Lenovo is determined to change that. The company says its newest line-up of ultraportable netbooks will boast portability as well as power. For most of their brief history, netbooks have been little more ... than compact, lightweight web browsing and word processing tools with minimal performance capabilities. For many consumers, that's been just fine. Netbooks perform these basic functions (which, let's face it, are probably the most important things a computer can do) admirably, and in most cases they cost less than $500. Changing the Way Consumers ... (view more)