“One Laptop Per Child” – Now in Uruguay
oleg | 2:01 am | November 12, 2009 | Laptop News, New Laptops, Uncategorized
Thanks to One Laptop Per Child, a non-profit North American association, 380,000 primary school pupils in Uruguay have been issued this year with a free personal laptop.
The XO-1, (previously known as the $100 Laptop), is an inexpensive laptop model that was developed by Quanta Computer Incorporated, a well-known manufacturer of notebook computers. Its customers include ACER, Apple Inc., Cisco, Compaq, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo, Sony, Toshiba and other major brands. The XO-1 was designed and built especially for children in developing countries, considering everything from extreme environmental conditions to local language support. It is being described by its producers as “extremely durable, brilliantly functional, energy-efficient, and fun”.
It is about the size of a textbook and lighter than a lunchbox. The integrated handle is kid-sized, as is the sealed, rubber keyboard. Extra-wide touchpad supports pointing, as well as drawing and writing. Its LiFePO4 or NiMH extended life battery cells contain no toxic heavy metals. It is also compatible with alternate power sources, such as car chargers. Children may also have a second battery for group charging at school while the laptop is in use. Yet, each machine costs only about $260 (including teacher-training and connection charges) plus annual maintenance of $21.
Their efficiency will be tested for the first time when Uruguayan first year pupils will take online exams later this month. The first country in Latin America to provide free, compulsory schooling, Uruguay will now become the first again to find out whether supplying a whole generation with laptops is a good investment. The government of neighbouring Peru, a bigger, but at the same time poorer country, is currently trying something similar.
But is this program really the best use of money? There have been several voices arguing its success. The first 50,000 laptops arrived in Uruguay with software in English, instead of Spanish. Many of the pupils managed to break their machines, usually by cracking the screen or snapping of the WI-FI antennas. When a poor, rural child wrecks his, he often chooses to keep his new toy rather than risk sending it by post where it could be easily stolen. Every two out of five schools in Uruguayan countryside are located in remote areas with poor internet connectivity. Moreover, many of the teachers in Uruguay are of advanced age and therefore find it difficult to cope with the new technology.
Skeptics would rather prefer the government hiring more teachers instead of introducing new technologies. But the officials’ response is that the laptops are still worth a try.”We shall see a rapid shift away from memorization to critical analysis,” says Edith Moraes, the official in charge of elementary schools. And the “One Laptop per Child” program will certainly conribute to better schooling.
HP Photosmart Premium – no PC needed
Boris | 2:06 am | June 28, 2009 | Uncategorized
No, there is nothing exciting about printers. Apart from the HP Photosmart Premium that connects directly to the Internet. The ability to get Google map directions using the printer’s 4″ LCD is the reason for existing.
Speaking of the applications, the Photosmart Premium will include several preloaded apps like Nickelodeon, Weather News and Google, plus people can download new ones as they become available. The printer will come with an open API, what will let developers create their own widgets.
HP is convinced this device will “revolutionize” and “change the way people think about printing.”
Internet or Global Something
Sasha | 4:43 pm | June 12, 2008 | Uncategorized
Internet Service Providers can prove many people have difficulty locating what Internet actually is. They receive hundreds of calls daily and can prove that such substance as Internet is still beyond understanding for a certain number of users. Here are some of the most interesting inquiries:
- I’d like to buy the Internet. Do you know how much it is?
- I would like a CD with the Internet on it.
- Can you copy the Internet for me on this pen drive?
- I would like an Internet please.
- I just downloaded the Internet. How do I use it?
- Excuse me, could you sell me an Internet?
- I don’t have a computer at home. Is the Internet available in book form?
- Will the Internet be open on Memorial Day tomorrow?
- We’re getting an Internet from you. Are you guys having any problems sending out your Internets?
- The Internet is running too slow. Could you reboot it please?
- Hi. Is this the Internet?
- Do you own the Internet?
- I broke the Internet! Can you fix it for me?
- I can’t send an email. Is the Internet full?
Some people make cheques payable to the Internet when buying things online.
Problems with email are not rare as well.
A Customer Support Centre received a phone call one day with a complaint that the reply to the enquiry emailed was some satanic message that she didn’t dare to open. On a further investigation it turned out the message received was under a subject “Message from MAILER-DAEMON.”
Is my Computer Functioning Properly?
Sasha | 6:30 pm | April 29, 2008 | Uncategorized
Everything turned upside down when the computer came into our life and became our family member. However, it has not always been a loved one – often perfectly normal and even wise people loose every trace of the common sense in front of a PC. There are millions of stories. Here are some examples of these computer legends.
Many people are confused about the location of the “any” key is on their keyboards when the “Press Any Key” message is displayed. The “OK” button has also never been found.
One man was not sure if it was safe to insert a CD in his computer because the disc had a hole in the middle.
An office technician got a call from a not too experienced user describing the problem with his computer. The tech concluded “It looks like the computer needs to be serviced. Please turn it off first, unplug the power cord and bring it in for inspection”. The guy showed up later with the power cord in his hands.
A tech received a call the other day: “I threw my mouse at a wall. Do you think I might have damaged it? It’s not working properly”
A man who had just bought a new desktop requested to change his computer cup holder as it broke down really fast. The service team were surprised to find out that what was described and used as a cup holder was a simple CD drive.
Technical Support received a phone call asking how to turn off a computer. They replied: “Click on start, then shutdown, then select shutdown from the list, and click on OK.”
About thirty minutes later they got a call back from the same customer. “I did what you said, and now my screen is all black and I can’t do anything on my computer!”
Here’s another problem, the system won’t boot up. The user had an enquiry “My Caps Lock indicator lights up when I boot the PC, Caps Lock must be on, can this be the problem?”
And if you have a smile on your face it rather means it’s been a while since you acted in a similar way with your first computer.
The Green That Makes Trees Scream
Christine | 10:05 pm | April 16, 2008 | Green Laptops, Uncategorized
The voices telling us about eco-friendly laptops are getting louder, but so far they sound, to put it mildly, boring and unimaginative. Certainly, with winter temperatures getting closer to summer ones each year it is silly not to consider environment these days. However, it seems that “eco-friendly” developers experience some kind of a creative thinking crisis.
Most of new nature-oriented concepts of laptops or actual products are based on wood (examples include Micro-Star International GX-620, Swedx monitor, Thallbach USB-drive, Asus Eco Book, followed by new WoodShell concept). And it looks as if one designer came up with the idea and herds of others took it up.
These devices scream “I am ecology-friendly!”, but are they really? One wooden laptop born means one tree dead. With so many wooden designs today it’s high time that some other options are considered.
And again, here comes Fujitsu. First they used corn to produce plastic for their laptops, and now they have developed new bio-based plastic for their FMV-BIBLO NX95Y/D. Which is definitely a welcome change for those hungry for new ideas.
Am I OK, Computer ?
Sasha | 10:25 pm | March 17, 2008 | Uncategorized
A sad incident happened 2 years ago and a laptop is to blame. A man from Germany was working with the laptop resting on his knees. Unfortunately the man got carried away and took no notice of getting a second-degree burn of his laps and hips.
But heat is unfortunately not the only danger laptop brings.
If you’ve ever spent time sitting slouched on the couch with your laptop or had to live through a long night curled up like a worm on your bed staring into the screen, you will probably feel my pain too. Unfortunately, with time, it gets worse, tight neck will turn into a chronic back problem, and sore eyes will lead to myopia.
But does this mean you have to kick out your brand new 1000£ machine?
Not yet. But if you plan to use a laptop as your primary computer, it does mean that you will need to start taking some steps right now to prevent stress and strain:
1. Elevate the screen so that you don’t have to bend your neck and back
2.Try to sit straight, pay attention to your posture
3. Learn to set up your work station correctly, use external mouse and keyboard if possible, take regular breaks, stretch your body
4. If you still feel aches and pains- get rid of it before it kills you
Bath And Spa For Your Office
Sasha | 1:45 am | February 13, 2008 | Uncategorized
A toilet seat has 400 less germs than a usual keyboard of a public computer, researchers of the
I personally feel a bit of disgust touching a mouse of a public internet café that has a million fingerprints on it, with people eating, drinking, coughing and sneezing right next to me. Is there an antivirus, a real one?
The simplest way of protection is the regular use of cleaning wipes. However, there is a better solution – washable laptop accessories, Belkin washable mouse and flexible silicone keyboard.
Both the mouse and the keyboard are absolutely water-resistant and can be rinsed under the running tap water. The germs will be wiped out of existence, and spilled coffee will not be a problem anymore.
Flexible Silicone Keyboard >>>
Crystals Are Laptop’s Best Friends
Christine | 6:53 pm | January 29, 2008 | Uncategorized
If one is to name a purely girlish laptop, they probably think of Apple iBook Tangerine or Sony Vaio VGN-C290 Pink. A red, green or yellow Dell Inspiron 1720 will do as well. Strange though it may seem, the colour may be more important for a girl than technical features, and laptop manufacturers have been making use of it, offering more nicely-coloured laptops each year.
NEC said no to this colourful tactic by launching a new Hello Kitty laptop, which, however, exploits another soft spot voiced by Marilyn Monroe: “Diamonds are a girl’s best friends”. Well, NEC’s “diamonds” are not actually diamonds, these are Swarovski Crystals, but they have their magnetic force, too. Gentlemen may prefer blondes, but blondes will certainly prefer shiny laptops. So it seems that at the moment only NEC knows how to entice girls from Apple and Sony, just like Daniel Swarovski is the only one who knows how to turn a strass into a sparkling crystal.
Source: FarEastGizmos
8 Ways To Make a Recyclable Laptop Bag
Christine | 3:42 am | January 24, 2008 | Green Laptops, Uncategorized
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Hippies may be accused of libertinism, drug-abuse and sexual perversion, but what they try to teach the world is that the nature is our treasure. Wearing synthetic clothes, eating artificially made food, driving cars with high levels of toxic gases emission we can hardly call ourselves flower children.
However, while hippies’ methods of struggling for nature protection were mostly expressed by boycotting ecology-unfriendly products and promoting biodegradable products, some consumer goods manufacturers take action nowadays and introduce a range of eco-friendly products.
Let’s take laptop bags, for instance. It’s hard to believe how different recyclable materials for making laptop bags can be:
Though the bag may be a bit inconvenient to use as there’s not much space left when a laptop is inside, the bag looks very stylish.
Quite a clumsy one, but seems to be soft and have enough space.
The bag looks as if it was made from durable fabric, besides, it is stain-resistant.
It’s impossible to tell a common laptop bag from one of these recycled ones. And if there’s no difference, why not go for an eco-friendly one.
Teenagers will like it. As well as hippies.
These bags are handmade and thanks to the handmade nature, they are unique since they all vary a bit in size and shape.
This one even allows to access ports without removing the laptop from the bag.
Sails of decommissioned yachts
Sails is probably the last thing that would come to one’s mind when thinking of recyclable materials. Which, however, doesn’t make the bag look less trendy.
Tape Your Memories
Christine | 5:47 pm | January 21, 2008 | Uncategorized
Sound recording has gone a long way, from first phonographs invented in the 17th century to digital recording, with such pit-stops on the way as gramophone, magnetic tape and optical recording. While first gramophone records were 7″ wide and could reproduce sound for 2 minutes at most, the capabilities of modern media storage devices are astonishing. Although technological progress has positive connotations, it seems to wipe out what we cherish – the soul of our favourite records. Does The White Album on CD or in mp3 sound the same as the vinyl White Album bought in 1968? Hardly.
While gramophone records are still produced and bought, cassettes are slowly but steadily disappearing from stores, mainly because they are so inconvenient to use. However we all remember those times when a favourite cassette was played and then rewound, again and again, and we love these nostalgic memories. MIXA brings you 10-15 years back by presenting a flash drive that looks just like a tape cassette, so all your memories can now be kept at your fingertips. Chose from MIXA’s images or use your own design, buy it for yourself or for your parents, who are still afraid of using a laptop, enjoy it before cassettes disappear forever.
Source: Makeamixa.com