This is like every single computer conversation I have with my cousins.

[via]

Kids These Days, Technology Edition is a post from: The Inquisitr

Really, it’s only a matter of time before this happens to you.

Your Dad on Facebook is a post from: The Inquisitr

There are case mods and there are case mods and they all make the geek in us drool every time we see them but this incredible offering from Peter from the Netherlands raises the bar to insane heights.

I have always wanted a desktop computer, or rather a computer that was my desk as that always struck me as being the best utilization of space. However, never in my wildest dreams consider going to the lengths that Peter has in this water-cooled thing of beauty.

Here is the list of hardware that went into the computer part of the desk:

Intel Core i7 980X @ 4.5 Ghz
Corsair Dominator GT 6GB DDR3-2000 CL7 (Elpida) @ 2000 7-7-7-20-1T
ASUS Rampage III Extreme
ASUS GTX580 SLI
ASUS Xense + Sennheiser Xense
Highpoint RocketRAID 3560 24x SATA-300 2 GB
Bigfoot Networks™ Killer™ 2100 Gaming Network Card
1x Intel 510 120Gb
3x Corsair F60 raid0
6x Hitachi Deskstar 7K2000 12TB raid5
2x Optiarc AD-7241S-0B
Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 800W
Cooler Master Silent Pro Gold 700W
Dell U2711 27″ IPS
2 x Dell 1703 17″ portrait
Logitech Illuminated keyboard
Mionix Naos 5000
Mionix Alioth 400

You can see more images of the desk over here.

You can read more about the project that was part of the CoolerMaster CaseMod Competition over here.

[Hardware Drool Dept.] Water-cooled 4.5GHz multi-monitor desk mod is a post from: The Inquisitr

This is definitely the stuff of the future and, as Michael Gorman at Engadget says in their headline when he wrote about this, it brings the idea of clothes in which a computer is woven – so to speak.

Researchers at IMEC have created a cheap bendable microprocessor by layering a plastic substrate, gold circuits, organic dielectric, and a pentacene organic semiconductor in order to create an 8-bit logic circuit with 4,000 transistors.

The trick was to overcome individual organic transistors’ variable switching voltage thresholds — as opposed to silicon’s predictable nature — that eliminated the possibility of organic-based logic circuits previously. But by adding a second gate to each transistor, IMEC was able to control the electrical field in each to prevent unwanted switching and usher in the dawn of plastic processors.

So, what do you think? A bikini enabled computer anyone?

image courtesy of Engadget – information source: IMEC

[Cool Stuff] Flexible microprocessor with organic semiconductors is a post from: The Inquisitr

How many times have we read a headline to a post on a news site and literally want to shake the person that wrote it because it was just so inanely ridiculous?

It seems that these stupid types of headlines happen in the tech world and the one that I read today over at Seattle PI is a perfect example of these bang your head against the keyboard posts.

The headline was this: Smart phones outsell PCs for the first time.

The allusion here is that somehow smart phones are on parity with computers except they aren’t. Not everyone will own a computer, at least ways what we qualify as one, but just about everyone will at some point own a mobile. Even more to the point a growing number of people will either be buying a smart phone for the first time or they will be moving up to one.

So trying to allude to the fact that smart phones are becoming more popular than computer is a mutts games. Computers come in all shapes and sizes, from huge super computers to desktop sized ones and then there are the laptops and netbooks. However as technology changes so does the desktop and our need for them so not everyone will own a computer.

In contrast you have kids growing up with smart phones attached to their ears or fingers. Smartphones are replacing wired phones at an ever increasing rate. It was inevitable that the number of smart phones out in the world would increase but to put the two on the same playing field is stupid.

Yet another stupid smartphone and computer comparision is a post from: The Inquisitr

Today seems to be a big day for news about people looking for new jobs. First of course is the big layoff rumored to be happening at Myspace, then comes news out of Redmond that President of  Server and Tools Business Bob Muglia has been shown the door, even though he’ll be hanging around until summer.

Now e get word that AMD has decided that it’s time for some new leadership as the board announced that CEO Dirk Meyer is by mutual agreement with the board of directors resigning immediately.

All this is rather puzzling since it was under Meyer’s leadership that AMD managed to engineer a turnaround and actually pull ahead of Intel in some cases.

The CEO search committee will be headed by Bruce Claflin, chairman of AMD’s board. Claflin will become executive chairman as he assumes additional responsibilities during the transition. Seifert will maintain his current job as CFO and has asked not to be considered for the permanent CEO job.

“Dirk became CEO during difficult times.  He successfully stabilized AMD while simultaneously concluding strategic initiatives including the launch of GlobalFoundries, the successful settlement of our litigation with Intel and delivering Fusion (accelerated processing units) APUs to the market,” said Claflin.

”However, the Board believes we have the opportunity to create increased shareholder value over time,” Claflin continued. ” This will require the company to have significant growth, establish market leadership and generate superior financial returns.  We believe a change in leadership at this time will accelerate the company’s ability to accomplish these objectives.”

via VentureBeat

One has to wonder, given the circumstances, what kind of possible scandal is lurking under the surface. It sure makes one think of the whole HP and Hurd fiasco.

AMD kicks current CEO to the curb is a post from: The Inquisitr

I can still remember the days of when floppy disks where the only way to install programs on your computer. CDs, DVDs and installing over the web were only a dream that every techie had flash through their minds as they inserted disk after disk into the floppy drive.

Now though the floppy disk has become a distant memory (thank God) replaced with DVDs and even more common place – over the web install. However designer Mehmet Gozetlik apparently still has fond memories of the floppy disk because he has created some great posters showing off various popular applications and how many disks it would take today’s version of the them to install.

• Firefox – 12 disks
• Firefox Add-Ons – 36 disks
• iTunes – 46 disks
• Adobe Photoshop CS4 – 358 disks
• Sims 3 – 1760 disks

via Geekosystem

IF 3.5″ Floppies Still Ruled The Roost is a post from: The Inquisitr

Retro is the theme folks and thanks to the crew over at Smashing Apps I’ve managed to pick out some great desktop wallpapers. There’s sure to be something to satisfy everyone even you cool Apple cats looking to be even more cool (if that is possible).

Top image: Retro

art:vs:me

Mustang

Grunge Music

Apple Retro

<

Chevrolet camaro

Sensual Education

Retro

Apple Spore

Retro

Rainbow Virus

Retro Party

Appleseal Retro

Retro feeling

At The Core

Retro

15 reasons to go retro on your desktop this Wallpaper Sunday is a post from: The Inquisitr

A new rumor is circulating today regarding the Apple Tablet and it’s a juicy one. Northeast Securities analyst Ashok Kumor is stating that Verizon will offer a subsidized price for the Apple Tablet, rather than iPhone friendly AT&T wireless.

The rumor, reported by TheStreet says that the companies wireless service will help drive the price down from $800 without a subsidy to $200. Of course with a 2 year data contract through Verizon you’ll end up spending a whole lot more on monthly data charges, while more than likely being hit with a data cap for heavy use.

According to TheStreet:

“Having a telco partner means the price of the Verizon Tablet will be less than a Tablet purchased directly from Apple. Analysts estimate that Verizon will subsidize about $200 of the Tablet’s price and require a two-year data service plan of around $60 a month. Apple is expected to sell the Tablet for around $800 without a subsidy.

Apple is expected to unveil the Tablet next week and make it available for sale in March, though the sale date might be delayed until June due to component supply shortages, Kaufman analyst Shaw Wu indicated in a note Tuesday.

The Tablet will also include a docking station, according to Northeast Securities’ Kumar. This could be a crucial feature for consumers who harbor an ongoing love affair with keyboards. For those unsatisfied with touchscreen typing, a dock would connect to a keyboard and mouse.”

Apple won’t reveal any details about the tablet until their official press conference on January 27th, so until then we’ll just hold our breath and brush off the hundreds of rumors as “hopeful dreams” from wishful analysts. [image: TheStreet]

Apple Rumor Mill: Verizon To Subsidize Tablet Pricing is a post from: The Inquisitr

The Wall Street Journal ruined my day today when they released a report stating that the Apple Tablet would sell for closer to a $1000 price point than earlier projections of $400-$600.  I can’t say that I’m all that surprised by the annoucement, especially considering that the Apple price points for their fully featured notebooks and PCs are closer to the new pricing.  That same report also announced a March release date with a late January reveal.

The tablet is expected to feature either a 10 or 11 inch display, possibly play iPhone apps and offer full computing for games, web surfing, business use and other functions.

It’s also being reported that the device may offer nationwide WiFi which could lend itself to a subsidized mobile carrier price point, although very little is known about that feature or possible partners at this time.

Hopefully we’ll know more by the end of January, I for one am getting sick of rumors surfacing from the middle of nowhere.

Apple Tablet Rumors Point To $1000 Price, March Release is a post from: The Inquisitr

Customers looking to take advantage of custom built computers from Dell this holiday season could end up without a gift under the tree. According to various internet rumors the company appears to be suffering a lack of parts due to the way their ordering system handles part orders for their computers.

Electronista is reporting that some customers have reported being delayed four to five times after placing their custom orders, in many cases pushing back their arrival time into January 2010. When those customers have asked Dell what the delay is they’ve repeatedly been told that Dell is waiting on certain parts for their custom builds. Under their current ordering processes Dell doesn’t keep stock on hand of certain parts, instead deciding to order parts as orders arrive. If a certain supplier experiences any issues those problems are then passed on to Dell.

On the other side of the spectrum Apple and many other providers use completely pre-assembled units, then modify them as requested by the user, allowing for more parts to be held on-hand and typically faster fulfillment times. Of course Dell’s approach does allow for more customization than standard systems which is required by many of their buyers so we can’t completely fault their buying logic.

Dell has experienced a large decline in sales over the last several years, for their sake hopefully they get this issue sorted out as soon as possible.

Dell Custom Ordering System Has Caused Holiday Fulfillment Issues For Some Customers is a post from: The Inquisitr

MSI Korea today announced their newest all-in-one PC, the MSI WindTop AP1900, an Intel Atom N270 processor powered space saving desktop with a decent feature set and a UV coated LCD Screen.

The devices display is 18.5 inches with 1366 x 768 pixels of resolution and a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 250cd/m2 brightness and an Intel GMA 950 graphics card.

The WindTop AP1900 also features 1GB RAM, a 160GB hard drive, integrated 1.3MP webcam and a DVD SuperMulti drive. It also offers a 4-in-1 card reader, four USB 2.0 ports and a built-in WiFi adapter.

No word yet on a U.S. release date or pricing. [SlipperyBrick]

MSI Announces New All-In-One PC with UV Coated LCD Screen is a post from: The Inquisitr

Back in July Microsoft made some waves in the tech blogosphere with its video that showed what they thought computing might be like come 2019. Well that old story looks like it might just have been the tip of the iceberg given what the folks a Microsoft Labs is playing around with these days.

Thanks to Long Zheng over at his istartedsomething.com blog he has some pretty interesting videos of speeches given recently by Craig Mundie at various big name colleges around the United States.

According to Mundie the future display for computers will be glass with multi-touch capabilities as well as voice and pen input.

Unfortunately I can’t find a way to embed the videos here so take a few minutes and watch them over Long’s site.

It’s a see-through future according to Microsoft is a post from: The Inquisitr

This is an idea that is sure to get all kinds of Apple fans rolling on the floor laughing their asses of while struggling to get words like copycat and loser out through their guffaws. Not too mention that the anti-Microsoft crew in general will be hauling out their smartass dictionary out to fill out posts about how this is a dumb idea and will never work.

The thing is it could work and it could be the best thing to happen to both Microsoft and the PC market. I first heard the idea broached on a recent Cranky Geeks show with John Dvorak where he brought up the idea along with some sound reasons as to why Microsoft should seriously consider the idea, as well as writing a post about it. At the same Mike Elgan at the IT Management blog had a post where he outlined sever reasons as t o why he liked the idea as well.

His seven points are

• The Windows and Office ain’t what it use to be
• Microsoft is a great hardware maker
• Microsoft needs to manage the transition to multi-touch PCs
• Microsoft needs to be a bully again
• Microsoft needs to lead the market again
• Making PCs will make Windows better
• Selling PCs will help maintain Windows and Office profits

One of the things that has Apple regain its forward momentum the way it has is precisely for some of the same reasons the Mike Elgan gives above. This is nowhere more apparent that in the way that Mac OS X is a great operating system. It is exactly because Apple owns and controls the whole hardware software process that OS X in most peoples eyes a better operating system that Windows.

The other advantage that this gives Apple is that they can dictate what the hardware if going to be and then the software is written to play to the strength of that hardware. In Microsoft’s case it has always been a matter of having to be compatible with every kind of hardware produced by hardware manufacture.

This causes innumerable problems for the company as it is very rarely that when things go wrong that the hardware manufacture is blamed. When ever you see anyone going off on a rant about the problems they are having with their computer it is typical against Microsoft. If suddenly the video isn’t working, or some other piece of hardware is screwing up no-one points their finger at the video card manufacturer or hardware manufacture – it is primarily pointed at Microsoft.

A good example of this was with the launch of Vista. Both ATI and nVidia dragged their feet getting updated drivers out and this caused nothing but grief for users, and Microsoft because everyone looked to them to blame. Some manufacturers even said that they weren’t going to be delivering Vista drivers for the products.

In a lot of ways it would make sense for Microsoft to take a page out of the Apple play book and I have a feeling that if we did given the company’s excellent hardware product line they already have adding computers to it would be a big bonus for users. The interesting thing is that people are talking like this would be something totally new for Microsoft setting their current hardware line of keyboards, webcams, and mice. In fact since just before Vista was launched Microsoft has been looking at the computer hardware end of things.

As part of the lead into the Vista launch Microsoft made available a Vista Industrial Design Toolkit to over 70 PC manufacturers that contained much of their thoughts about the future of computer design and aesthetics. In addition they hired the Carbon Design Group to come up with some mock-ups of PC using the toolkit. I remember catching wind of this for the first time via Long Zheng’s blog and then drooling a bit over the actual mock-ups from Carbon.

>Here are a few shots of their desktop computer idea

As well they did a mock up for Windows Home Server 2008

The more that I thought about this especially in light of Elgan and Dvorak’s interesting posts on the idea I have to admit I’m  warming to the concept. It definitely could throw a whole new light on PCs and Windows.

What do you think? Good idea or bad?

Should Microsoft be thinking about making their own PCs? is a post from: The Inquisitr

You definitely can’t fault the kid for his dedication.

Now this is dedication is a post from: The Inquisitr

In the battle to keep computer networks safe we are use to using tools like resourcing hogging anti-virus and other malware scanning methods. The problem is that in many cases this is more like fighting a rear-guard action as malware creators change and adapt quicker than the tools we use to fight them.

This may change due to some new thinking and following one of nature’s scrappiest fighters – the common ant.

Using a concept called swarm intelligence security researchers are trying to create a digital version of those pesky little insects that have ruined more than one picnic.

“In nature, we know that ants defend against threats very successfully,” explains Professor of Computer Science Errin Fulp, an expert in security and computer networks. “They can ramp up their defense rapidly, and then resume routine behavior quickly after an intruder has been stopped. We were trying to achieve that same framework in a computer system.”

Source: Science Daily – Ants Vs. Worms: New Computer Security Mimics Nature

The project at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) has already successfully used this idea of digital ants to track down a worm that they let loose into a network of 64 computers. As a result the project has been extended and two of the researchers, Wes Featherstun and Brian Williams, will be incorporating their research into their master’s theses.

This type of security isn’t something that we will probably see anytime soon on our personal computers as it is more oriented to protecting large networks like the ones at universities, governments, and large corporations.

Swarm intelligence for cutting edge cyber security is a post from: The Inquisitr

Never mind the fact that this kind of thinking is just so obviously stupid it also flies in the face of sensible thinking. The idea that we should have to have a license in order to use computers is utterly ridiculous I can’t believe that anyone would take it seriously.

Just because of gullible people Russel Smith, billed as Australia’s leading criminologist, is putting forth to the government the idea that first time users of computers should have to earn a license in order to access and use the Web. On top of that he feels that all hardware manufacturers and software companies should be required to devise technology that will make it impossible, or at least more difficult, for people to be defrauded.

In an interview with IT News Smith said

"At the moment we have drivers licences for cars, and cars are very dangerous machines. Computers are also quite dangerous in the way that they can make people vulnerable to fraud.

"In the future we might want to think about whether it’s necessary there be some sort of compulsory education of people before they start using computers," he said.

Additionally he says banks are being kind when they bear the costs of cyber crime especially when it comes to them compensating customers who he suggests are partially responsible because of something they have done that is either silly or negligent.

Thinking that by the act of making people have license will change the current situation of people being defrauded online then Smith is utterly delusional. In no case of anything in our society being forced to require licensing has it been shown to make people behave smarter. We have to have drivers licenses but we still have people doing incredibly stupid things – things that can actually kill real people.

If licensing was the answer to cure human stupidity we’d have to be licensed to have children so I don’t see this being forced the have a ‘computer license’ will save stupid people from doing stupid things.

WARNING! idiot on the loose suggesting we need a license to use computers is a post from: The Inquisitr

There are tricked out computers, ones that look like steampunked throwbacks, and ones that are overclocker’s wet dreams. They don’t even compare in my opinion however to this thing of beauty from Million-Dollar-PC called The Edelweiss PC.

The wires and cables might be hidden away but everything else is encased in smoked glass with intertwined tubing for its liquid cooling.

Incredible.

a big hat tip to FreshPics for finding this sweet looking rig

This is friggin’ sweet! is a post from: The Inquisitr

These days, tech pundits and futurists can’t go a week without pontificating on the future of computing, wondering (and arguing) whether the computer will be merely a tool to access “the cloud” or as an application set.  Even the most inconsequential software release (or failure) sparks this argument – the most recent example is the release of the Opera browser’s repackaging of a personal webserver.

Companies and individuals alike have been heralding the death of the computer as we know if for years, claiming all applications, data, and other innovations will live in a decentralized fashion across distributed networks -  Google’s office suite offerings are an example of this.  Everything from instant messaging clients to word processors, video editors to photograph storage, and email to computer programming tools can be found as browser-based applications.  But just because they exist doesn’t mean they should, as not everything needs to be achieved inside the browser.

Some activities, such as photo or video editing, are best left to desktop tools that aren’t reliant on crude Javascript or Flash plugins, and still others have no reason to exist  “in the cloud”.  The essential test is this:  does existing in the cloud add value to the tool, allowing easier multi-computer interaction?  Or maybe it’s a service that allows users to connect and interact with each other?

If it doesn’t pass these tests, the application/tool doesn’t need to be cloud-oriented.  It is precisely for this reason that the computer will never be just a gateway to the ‘net – besides the obvious hardware and software complications with “the browser is the future operating system” arguments.  With the ridiculously marketed release of Opera’s twenty-year-old technology, a claim of “the desktop isn’t dead, and we’re the real future!” rung out through some circles… this isn’t the answer either.

These arguments are irrelevant, useless, and ultimately nothing more than a well marketed fist-fight.  Computing’s future is likely a combination of desktop and cloud, making intelligent choices between the two based on the needs and value of any given application.  The real issue is going to be the interoperability and real-world use/abilities of the cloud – a highly relevant and critical issue only just achieving any semblance of discussion.

Kyle Brady is a contributing columnist for the Inquisitr, an entrepreneur, and has a future in science fiction.  He can be found at his blog, via email, or on Twitter.

The Cloud vs. The Desktop: An Irrelevant Argument is a post from: The Inquisitr

Buying electronics, especially all our tech toys like computers, laptops and miscellaneous other goodies, can be fraught with more Murphy’s Laws than you can shake a stick at. Then on top of that we have to deal with people who for the most part either don’t have a clue what they are doing or are more concerned with increasing the commissions over real customer care.

To help us through this mine field Sharon Vaknin at the Crave blog set about to list 7 secrets that many of these big name electronics stores would prefer you didn’t know, These are – in short form:

1. We have no formal training in the field of consumer electronics.

2. We make little off the big-ticket items, so we smother you with accessories.

3. There are times when you should purchase extended warranties.

4. It doesn’t matter whether we make commission, we’re all equally pushy.

5. No receipt? No problem! a quickie note on some policies

• Fry’s Electronics: Receipt lookup, very difficult no-receipt return
• Best Buy: Receipt lookup, no-receipt return
• Target: Receipt lookup, no-receipt return
• RadioShack: Receipt lookup, no-receipt return
• OfficeMax: Difficult receipt lookup, but it’s possible

6. We offer expensive services I think a 12-year-old could perform.

7. Forget what your parents taught you–complaining usually gets you what you want.

So there you go folks just some helpful hints from your friendly bloggers at The Inquisitr to make your next shopping trip for electronics a little easier.

Secrets those electronic stores don’t want to share is a post from: The Inquisitr