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Livescribe Pulse Smartpen Finally Can be Used on Apple Mac OS X

Nerd Grind — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 11:40:38 +0000

Livescribe has finally enabled their Pulse smartpen for use with Apple’s Mac OS X. PC users have been able to use the pen that transcribes real world handwriting into a digital template. On November 24th, Mac users will be able to as well.

The company has even thrown in some new features for both Apple and Windows users. For an additional $29.95 you can get your hands on some handwriting to text transcription software. Consumers can also print dot paper notepads for free.

Legacy Entertainment Releases USB-enabled Joystick that Looks like Atari Controller

Nerd Grind — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 11:12:33 +0000

Legacy Entertainment has released a joystick that doubles as an homage to the legendary Atari 2600 controller. The joystick just looks like an Atari controller, however. It’s fully Windows, OS X and Linux compatible and connects via USB. The company claims it will work flawlessly with "nearly any emulator" so you can seek out the original games that the joystick helped make so much fun. It costs just $14.99 and it’s currently available.

Happy Anniversary to Microsoft Windows

Nerd Grind — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 17:52:07 +0000

Well it’s been a long rollercoaster of a ride for Microsoft Windows who turned 25 yesterday. November 10, 1983 was the day that CEO Bill Gates unveiled the Windows operating system at New York’s Helmsley Palace Hotel to IBM associates. Although the OS didn’t ship for another two years, Gates was definitely correct in his prediction that Windows would rule IBM and personal computers.

You gotta love the GUI, which was bleeding edge for the day as well as the 5 1/2 inch floppies that the OS shipped on. Oh, those were the days.

If you are like me, you’re waiting anxiously for the arrival of Windows 7, coming sometime in 2009.

Onion Satirically Pits Snow Leopard Against Windows 7

Nerd Grind — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:00:50 +0000

It’s Monday morning. The most dreaded part of the week. We figured we’d lighten the mood a bit by calling your attention to a really funny piece recently posted by the Onion. It’s a comparison graphic pitting Apple’s forthcoming Snow Leopard against Microsoft’s elusive Windows 7. Tongue is planted firmly in cheek with this one folks. Glance above for all of the hilarity.

Microsoft Accidentally Reveals 2009 Launch Window for Windows 7

Nerd Grind — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:00:52 +0000

According to it’s corporate bigwigs, Microsoft will releases Windows 7 in early 2010. That’s not the whole story, however. Ina Fried at CNET has heard from Microsoft Director Doug Howe that Windows 7 should be ready for general consumption by the 2009 holidays. Answering a question from Fried, Doug Howe said "Definitely the holiday focus is going to be on 7."

Using the Vista launch as a template, this would put the Windows 7 OS in the hands of OEMs and big business IT staffers by the middle of the year, just three months shy of consumers. Now we play the waiting game.

Microsoft Finally Discontinues Windows 3.x

Nerd Grind — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 15:09:20 +0000

Microsoft has finally discontinued licensing for their seminal Windows 3.x platform. Believe it or not, consumers have still been snapping up licenses for the system. It’s used primarily in cash registers and with airline entertainment companies. Still, after 18 years, Microsoft decided to call it quits.

Requirements for the, now dead, OS included a 8086/8088 processor with a clock speed of 10MHz, 7MB of storage and 640KB of RAM. To put that in perspective, Vista requires a minimum of a 1GHz processor and 20GB of storage.

ASUS CEO Says $200 Eee PC in 2009

Nerd Grind — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:45:02 +0000

Jerry Shen, CEO of ASUS, noted recently that his company would release an Eee PC priced at US$200 in 2009. He also noted to a group of analysts that the 7- and 8.9 inch Eee PCs would be discontinued to make room for the 10-inch model. Shen did not clarify as to whether or not that meant the 10-inch Eee PC would be $200. He also gave the group some figures, noting that 70% of all Eee PCs now come loaded with Windows XP and hard disk drives compared to 30% that come loaded with Linux and SSDs.

Kids really like sugar – really dislike Windows XP

Nerd Grind — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:49:30 +0000

This would be filed squarely in the "duh" department if we were talking about sugar, the stuff that makes candy taste so good. However, we are talking about the Linux-based Sugar UI. That probably wouldn’t make candy taste so good. We could try though.

An editor at Cnet gave his 8 year old daughter the choice between an OLPC XO laptop running Windows XP and one running the Sugar UI. She chose Sugar. Ok, this isn’t exactly the scientific method but the Sugar interface certainly makes more sense than that dreary ’ole XP interface.

Speaking of, Amazon’s "Give One, Get One" program will be limited to the Linux UI. So that works out, considering the kiddies like it so much.

In other news, kids prefer cute puppies to poisonous spiders.

Microsoft Cracks Down on Software Pirates

Nerd Grind — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:36:05 +0000

Chinese computer users are appalled at Microsoft’s latest efforts to combat software piracy. A majority of Chinese computer users run some form of an illegal version of the Windows operating system. The latest initiative renders the screen of illegal copies of windows black every hour.

Chinese users are appalled at Microsoft’s efforts because of the inconvenience that it causes them. They argue that they are forced into piracy because of the outrageous cost of genuine windows copies.

Why not blame the Chinese government instead of Microsoft for not being able to afford Windows with the outrageously low wages that result from an authoritative government?

MSI Wind U120 with integrated 3.5G in November, follow-up Wind in March

Nerd Grind — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:09:28 +0000

The MSI Wind U120 was always supposed to drop this quarter, now magazine DigiTimes has narrowed the launch to November. The unit will be available in white or black, and should cost approximately $552 when it comes out. November’s Wind will come with a built-in 3.5G data module, Atom N270 proc, 1GB memory and a 120GB hard disk loaded with Windows XP.

But enough of the near future, what about the sorta near future? MSI says a next generation Wind will drop in March of 2009. This version will possess "new innovations" and will be shown off at CeBIT 2009. I hope these new innovations involve it cooking and feeding me a fried egg breakfast. Here’s to hoping.

Click the link to read the original DigiTimes article on the matter.

NerdGrind - How-to Computer Help - Tutorials - Tech and Gadget News » Windows

Livescribe Pulse Smartpen Finally Can be Used on Apple Mac OS X

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Legacy Entertainment Releases USB-enabled Joystick that Looks like Atari Controller

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Happy Anniversary to Microsoft Windows

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Onion Satirically Pits Snow Leopard Against Windows 7

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Microsoft Accidentally Reveals 2009 Launch Window for Windows 7

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Microsoft Finally Discontinues Windows 3.x

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ASUS CEO Says $200 Eee PC in 2009

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Kids really like sugar – really dislike Windows XP

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Microsoft Cracks Down on Software Pirates

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MSI Wind U120 with integrated 3.5G in November, follow-up Wind in March

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