Vampire Electronics

Did you know that there may be several small vampires around sucking up your power? Up to five percent of your energy is getting drawn through your outlets without your real consent or awareness. Although I’ve spoken about these vampires before in the Frugal Living Blog, I thought it was appropriate to mention them again here in the Computing blog for three reasons. One is that it is Halloween today, and talking about any sort of vampire gives in to the spirit (pun intended) of the holiday; two, most of these vampires have a lot to do with computing and … Continue reading →

Me & My Computer

Recently, Mary Ann asked me for some thoughts on computers and I have to admit, I had to think about. My computer is a fundamental tool in my everyday life. I use it for school. I use it for work. I use it for leisure time entertainment. I use it for my news. I use it for communicating both personally and professionally. If you were to give me the option of taking away my television or my computer, it’s the computer that I would choose, every single time. Staying On Top Of Things I remember the first computer I received. … Continue reading →

Embedded Chips in Your Shampoo: RFID Technology

Imagine if your money could talk back to you. Or how about your gift certificate or even your jewelry? Your new bracelet could talk all about how nice it is, how beautiful, how brilliant in color. That is all possible now, thanks to scientists at the Hitachi Research Labs in Japan. They have developed a tiny little radio frequency identification (RFID) chip that is so small that it could be embedded in almost anything. The chip is tinier than the width of a strand of hair or a grain of sand and known commonly as the “powder chip.”. What is … Continue reading →

New Subscription Service for Computers

The Linux-based Zonbox may be the first to offer subscription-based computing. When I think of things to subscribe to, my mind always goes to magazines. From there I can expand my thinking to cable and now music and movie services, but I don’t know if I am quite ready to jump on the bandwagon of recognizing computing as a subscription service. After all, we own (not rent) our home and cars. We also own our music and movies (I guess I am too far old school). I thought about possibly joining something like Netflix, but I haven’t yet made the … Continue reading →

Proximity Computing Coming Soon?

Have your heard of proximity computing? It promises to dramatically increase data transaction speeds between computer chips while greatly reducing power consumption. What is more, is that the technology seems to be able to work like magic, allowing computer chips to communicate with each other without actually making physical contact. So instead of being connected to each other, the chips interconnect, communicate and function by just being in close proximity, hence the new technology name. Proximity computing is currently being developed by Sun Microsystems. Last Thursday, the company debuted a prototype chip that they call the “Sedna,” during Sun Lab’s … Continue reading →

Why I Love My Laptop

Are laptops absolutely necessary? Probably not, unless you are me. When I received a laptop a couple of years ago, my whole world changed. I became less stressed, grew three inches taller, lost 20 pounds and developed sparkling white teeth. Well, maybe not, but I did grow less stressed. Getting a laptop is a definite choice to be made. Laptops are generally more expensive than desktops and may have some limitations in terms of power and capabilities. They also tend to become appendages, never far from their owner. I know one full time employee of the corporate world who got … Continue reading →

CompUSA: Everything Must Go

Say it isn’t so! Under pressure from competitors like Best Buy, Fry’s Electronics, and Circuit City and burdened by over $100 million in unsaleable inventory, CompUSA announced the upcoming closure of more than half their retail outlets yesterday. Of 229 stores, 126 will close across the U. S. and Puerto Rico in the next sixty to ninety days to allow the Dallas based consumer electronics retailer to focus on top performing locations. Chief Executive Officer Roman Ross said in a statement, “based on changing conditions in the consumer retail electronics markets, the company identified the need to close and sell … Continue reading →

Do You Download Movies?

Movies and television shows have started to become more and more available to download and watch on our computers. How many of you actually download movies? I have actually been pretty reluctant to jump on the movie download wagon. There is a RedBox at the store around the corer where I can rent movies for $1 a day, so the convenience of downloading a movie rather than renting it is pretty nominal for me. In fact, even at the typical $2 download fee I would be spending double the amount to download a movie rather than actually rent it. Last … Continue reading →

The Kid Computer Revolution

I work at an elementary school after-school program part-time. One of the electives children can choose in “Computers’ and I often find myself in the computer lab after school supervising 20-25 children playing in the computer lab. On days when other elective teachers are on vacation, or when it’s raining outside, children will often fight for one of the open slots in the computer class. When I was in elementary school I can remember really liking going to computer class. I was a huge fan of the video game “Oregon Trail” and I can remember looking forward to days when … Continue reading →

Growing Up With a Computer

I like to this of myself as pretty technology savvy. I read about computers, know how to run tons of computer programs, and have been using the internet long before anyone even really knew what the internet was. As many of you know, I teach in the after-school program at an elementary school, and recently have started working in their computer lab for an hour everyday. During the after-school program the children for the most part have the ability to do what they want on the computers. The internet is highly restrictive, so they can’t get to sites that are … Continue reading →