Microsoft releases SP1 and here are the release notes – that have been anticipated for while now.

They are mostly bug fixes and performance tweaks, but the sheer volume of them is certainly something to behold.

SP1 includes 23 security updates and 550 hotfixes resulting in a 434.5MB download (726.5MB for the 64-bit version).

SP1 is available for download now via Microsoft’s sites, with an auto-update rollout scheduled for next month

Back in November, we donated an XO Laptop to a child in a developing country as part of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project. The concept was to give one – get one free allowing us the opportunity to take a close look at this revolutionary PC. The ultimate goal is to get a low cost entry level machine into the hands of a child who normally would not have the opportunity.

As expected the notebook is extremely basic in design and performance. What did surprise us is just how rugged the construction is. We have seen expensive notebooks less sturdy then this little baby.

The LCD screen works in both direct sunlight and darkness. When compared to any entry level notebook the visuals do fall short in terms of viewing angles, contrast ratio, brightness and color. Overall the unit is pretty impressive when you weigh in the price vs. what you get. It certainly won’t provide any performance or productivity benchmarks however.

See the detailed review and inside look on the Notebookreview.com site

Specifications:

• Processor: 433MHz AMD Geode
• Display: 7.5″ LCD 1200×900 (black and white)/800×600 (color)
• RAM Memory: 256MB DDR333
• HD/Storage: 1GB Flash with SD Expansion slot
• Wireless: 802.11b/g and 802.11s Mesh
• Ports: 3 USB, Headphone, Microphone
• Battery: 3.1Ah 6.5v
• AC Adapter: 12VDC @1.42A, 100-240VAC
• Dimensions: 9.52 x 8.97 x 1.26″
• Weight: 3lbs 2.2oz, 1.4kg
• Price $400 with the “Give One, Get One” program ($200 per laptop)

For a more detailed review and tear down of the unit please check out Kevin O’Briens article on the Notebookreview.com site

Watch for the emergence of the new USB 3.0 standard to unfold in 2008.

Intel and partners plan to release a new version of the Universal Serial Bus technology in the first part of 2008 with a data transfer rate of 10 times as fast as the current USB 2.0.

The third-generation USB interconnect will transfer data at speeds up to 4.8Gbit/s, ten times faster than USB 2.0′s 480MBit/s. It will be backwards-compatible with USB 2.0, and the first USB 1.1

Presently most devices won’t require that much data transfer however as larger storage devices, flash readers and blue ray optical devices become more popular the need will arise.

For more information visit USB.org or the USB Wiki

Are reports of its demise greatly exaggerated? …Um … NO!

Now ask yourself, when was the last time you used a floppy?

Floppy discs have been around since the 1970s and remain the oldest form of low cost removable storage still around. In a sense, it’s amazing they have hung around for this long. They only hold 1.44 megabytes of available space — still enough for word processing docs but useful for little else. By comparison, CDs store upward of 700 megabytes, DVDs are 4.7GB and the flash memory USB thumb drives typically carry between 256MB up to 6.0GB or more

Now, there’s nothing really novel about ditching the floppy drive; after all, Apple and Dell did it years ago. For many the floppy has been dead for some time now. Once email attachments became mainstream most of us forgot they even existed. The floppy disc has several replacements; including writeable compact discs, USB/Firewire portable drives and the ever-popular USB keychain flash devices. All can hold much more data, are speedy to read/write data and are less likely to break.

Here’s a flashback of a very popular product we used to build in the 90’s.
It was a clone of the original Compaq machines that were everywhere and kept the chiropractors busy.

The Stealth Transportable PC featured a monochrome mini CRT (optional color) and the Intel 80386SX Processor which ran a blazing 16MHz. This portable machine (Um I mean luggable) featured lots of ISA expansion slots and was very popular amongst our test, measurement and PLC programming customers. Can you imagine lugging this baby through airports today?