Automotive Mobile Audio Video

The year's dramatic turns in the global economy and geopolitics were echoed in the PC industry. Here are some of the good and bad events that crossed that smaller stage.

The Good

Intel makes waves: After being slapped upside the head by Transmeta Corp. a few years ago, Intel Corp. came back with a bang in 2003. It released its first processor designed from the ground up for mobility—the Pentium M—as well as the Centrino technology bundle, which took the laptop space by storm. One of the biggest beneficiaries of Intel's Centrino was HP's tablet computer, which originally boasted a compelling design but was hampered by horribly slow performance.

X marks the SPOT: Microsoft's SPOT (Smart Personal Objects Technology)-based watches arrived in beta form in 2003, and mine is now wedded to my wrist. The devices automatically update to reflect the local time and receive inbound messages on helpful information such as weather and stocks.

Cheap wireless networking: The mobile workforce has long dreamed of a low-cost wireless network for their laptops. A number of vendors launched a nationwide initiative to drive wireless technology everywhere, but it took T-Mobile to provide both Wi-Fi and GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) data at affordable rates. A lthough it isn't broadband yet, cheap wireless networking took a giant leap forward in 2003.

Apple unleashes "Panther": Speaking of steps forward, Apple Computer Inc. finally gave in and made a solid effort to make its operating system compatible with the Microsoft-dominated world, with the release of its "Panther" OS. Now mobile Apple users can access some of the same resources us Windows folks have had for years and maybe get off the euthanasia list maintained by their local IT departments.

My first Ferrari: While I've secretly lusted after Apple laptops, Acer Inc. stole my heart this year with its new laptop co-branded with Ferrari. Sporting the Ferrari horse on its hot-red lid and a mobile Athlon XP chip inside, this is one sweet box. Yes, I have PC envy (and am seeking counseling for it).

IBM's T-40 keeps going … and going: IBM released its new T-40 series, which can get up to seven hours of battery life, allowing many of us to leave the power brick at home. Now if it only looked like the Acer. ...

New class of power notebooks: When I think "performance product," I envision the new class of power notebooks with desktop chips and 17-inch panoramic screens. I'm writing this column with Gateway's model now, and it not only makes me much more productive, but I can play a decent game of Unreal on it. It even has health benefits: It has done wonders for my biceps. My only regret is that no one is yet making one with either the new Extreme Edition Pentium 4 or the Athlon 64 FX. (OK, so maybe that would be over the top, but it would still be cool.)

AMD's 64-bit move: Speaking of the Athlon 64, Advanced Micro Devices Inc. stepped out from behind Intel in 2003 and made the bold move of going to 64 bits on the desktop. Intel came back with what amounted to a workstation chip at one-third the price, and the two companies are now competing heavily in the performance space. There is something to be said for competition, and the performance user clearly won this battle.

Is that a computer in your pocket, or. ... ? Some of you (wimps!) would rather not use your laptops to build upper-body strength, and one of my pet projects has been to help launch a new class of pocket computers. Several companies made progress this year with modular computers: Antelope Technologies started shipping its product; OQO received a second round of funding; and thanks to their efforts, the promise of a full-boat Windows PC we can put in our shirt pockets by Christmas 2004 just got much better.

Desktop blades: The other brand-new technology to hit the market in 2003 was desktop blades. With reliability and security that rival servers and no heat or noise on the desktop, these blades favored companies like IBM and Hewlett-Packard. HP left IBM in the dust getting its version of the product out first, but Clear Cube is the old hand in this space.

The other Mini that made a splash in '03: Another new form factor was the VIA EPIA Mini-ITX motherboard. Showing up in desktops about the size of paperback books and becoming a favorite for creative new desktop PC designs, automotive use and even robots, this was the most interesting part of Comdex Las Vegas 2003.

The USB dongle that could change the world: Speaking of good things in small packages, there was nothing smaller than Forward Solutions' MiGo portable USB storage device, which allows you to take much of your PC's personality with you on a little USB dongle. The idea of storing your files and settings on a device you could put on a keychain boggles the mind and inspired me to paint an alternative future where we wouldn't even have to carry laptops anymore.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:43 AM