Laptops Morph To Netbooks at CES ‘09

Intel’s Classmate PC Tablet PC, uh, I mean Netbook, is a better Netbook than most because it shows some design considerations that make sense for the small form factor. Image Credit Intel

Laptops Morph To Netbooks at CES ‘09

The world’s largest tradeshow attendance maybe down from about 140,000 to 130,000, but at CES, the byline is that smaller is better.

Take the laptop computer for example, the one technology trend that is getting the most attention is a downsized, on-board programs reduced, lightweight notebook optimized to take advantage of the strength of what is available over the internet. Dubbed the “Netbook”, this tool may just become what a notebook, laptop computer was supposed to be when they were introduced as the main computerized aid to a person on the go.

Skype, Go To My PC, and other software function capabilities remove the need to have a full computer system on the road when communications (written and video), internet access, and information retrieval are the functions that become more important than the ability to process digital assets on a large scale.

Netbooks are the star of the show. At CES 2009, a little smaller may just become better in a big way.

Sony VAIO P is Slim WVGA Netbook - Measuring less than an inch, sporting 8-inch 1600x768 screen and 3G support, the netbook will sell for $900. Image Credit: Pocketnow

This excerpted from eWEEK -

Desktops & Notebooks Slideshow:
Notebooks and Netbooks Take Center Stage at the 2009 CES

At the 2009 International CES in Las Vegas, mobility remained one of the hottest topics, and vendors littered the showroom floor with the latest in notebooks, netbooks, mini-notebooks and ultraportable laptops.

eWEEK took a look at some of the latest offerings from Toshiba, Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Asus, Acer and Sony.

While CES usually focuses on consumer electronics, there were several enterprise and SMB offerings on the showroom floor, including the HP Mini 2140 and the Toshiba Portege R600.
Reference Here>>

Build A Digital Antenna/Converter Box For $8.00

Consumers with analog televisions who tune in using antennas will need a digital converter box, left, once television stations stop broadcasting in analog Feb. 17. Image Credit: Bebeto Matthews -- Associated Press

Build A Digital Antenna/Converter Box For $8.00

The federal government's TV converter box program runs out of funding!

Is anyone surprised? Give the government something to manage and they will manage to mess it up. Hey, why don't we have the government fix our economy that had been sent into a tailspin through the promotion of JUNK MORTGAGES backed by organizations create by .... the government? - oops!

Maybe the government can free up some of the 750 billion dollars that was supposed to be used to buy back JUNK MORTGAGES so that people in our society don't miss the new gameshow program, Million Dollar Password.

This excerpted and edited from the Washington Post –

TV Converter Program Runs Out of Funding
By Kim Hart, Washington Post Staff Writer - Tuesday, January 6, 2009

The government's billion-dollar program to help people prepare for the transition to digital television has run out of money, potentially leaving millions of viewers without coupons to buy converter boxes they need to keep their analog TV sets working after the switch.

As of this past Sunday, consumers who request a $40 coupon to help offset the cost of a converter box are being placed on a waiting list. They may not receive the coupons before Feb. 17, when full-power television stations will shut off traditional analog broadcasts and transmit only digital signals.

Members of Congress are now scrambling to find ways to allocate more money to the program.
Reference Here>>

Check out the video ... the one that teaches someone on how to build an analog to digital antenna for about $8.00, build an antenna, then watch Million Dollar Password!