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Barcoding

A barcode printer (or bar code printer) is a computer peripheral for printing barcode labels or tags that can be attached to physical objects. Barcode printers are commonly used to label cartons before shipment, or to label retail items with UPCs or EANs. You can read about bar code inventory labels if you want to gain more knowledge in this field.

The most common barcode printers employ one of two different printing technologies. Direct thermal printers use a printhead to generate heat that causes a chemical reaction in specially designed paper that turns the paper black. Thermal transfer printers also use heat, but instead of reacting the paper, the heat melts a waxy or resin substance on a ribbon that runs over the label or tag material. The heat transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper. Direct thermal printers are generally less expensive, but they produce labels that can become illegible if exposed to heat, direct sunlight, or chemical vapors.

Xeon 5100

After a huge loss in market share and clever marketing strategies deployed by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel is ready to fight back. One of the first blows in Intel’s new line-up was released today at events in SanFran & NYC, where the company introduced the Intel Xeon 5100 processor for powerful servers.

The new chip is seen as strategically important not only to Intel’s biz, but also to claim its position as the best in the chip industry. AMD has been getting the upper hand over Intel with its Opteron server, which most people saying it is fundamentally very different from others and is hands down better than it’s Intel counterparts.

Linux kernel 2.6 getting buggy

Andrew Morton, the head maintainer of the Linux production kernel, is concerned about the amount of bugs cropping up in the 2.6 kernel.
He is considering the possibility of dedicating an entire release cycle to fixing long standing bugs.

One problem is that few developers are motivated to work on bugs, according to Morton. This is particularly a problem for bugs that affect old computers or peripherals, as kernel developers working for corporations don’t tend to care about out-of-date hardware.

Recently, A lot of kernel developers are employed by Tech companies, like hardware manufacturers, which can cause problems as they can mainly be motivated by self-interest

HIS Fastest Graphic Card

HIS claims to have launched the fastest graphic card in the world, namely HIS X1800XT OC Edition 2x Dual Link DVI VIVO 512MB card. The producers say that it brings radically new 3D performance architecture technology and the next generation image quality by ATI.

HIS specifies that HIS X1800XT OC Edition boosts the card to an extreme speed condition while the core operates from 625MHz to 700MHz, and the memory operates from 1.5GHz to 1.6 GHz.

HIS X1800XT OC Edition
is powered by the new ultra-threaded 3D core architecture, with advanced 90nm micron process which allows the core to operate in exceptional performance. Also, HIS says that the new board is optimizing the latest Shader Model 3.0 and DirectX 9 technologies, which enhances the gaming experience.

HIS X1800XT OC Edition features new 8 channels ultra high speed GDDR3 memory and Ring Bus memory controller, with the new cache design provides a faster memory control for rendering engines.

“HIS is one of the selected AIB partner to release the limited edition of HIS X1800XT OC Edition. With the extra high speed of core and memory, HIS X1800XT OC Edition is the fastest graphic card in the planet,” said Peter Yeung, Marketing Manager of HIS.

New Mini to Be Unveiled at MacWorld?

Think Secret has released today to the public what they have apparently known all along: “Intel-based Macs will be ready some six months sooner than originally expected”, say their sources.

In the article we can also find some other very juicy tidbits of information. Apparently the new Mac Mini (code-named Kaleidoscope) will be a “digital hub centerpiece”. It will be unveiled a the Macworld Expo in San Francisco early next year and will feature an Intel processor and include both Front Row 2.0
and TiVo-like DVR functionality

The exact technical details of the new Mini are unknown but it is said to sport a built-in iPod dock, and it is possible that it will be outfitted with a standard 3.5-inch hard drive, which will serve to increase storage capacity which heavy media users demand and cut down costs. Although this would naturally increase the size of the Mini, it is not to be ruled out entirely since a built-in iPod dock would also take up some space.

The ‘Kaleidoscope’ will undoubtedly feature Front Row 2.0 and Apple’s DVR application but details are sketchy, the latter having been dubbed a TiVo-killer.” This seems to fit since TiVo announced recently that it will soon offer customers the ability to copy stored content to a video iPod.

With Front Row being bundled with the new iMacs and this being thrown on the table, Apple sure looks like it’s trying to plant both feet into the living room. With the hardware, software, and iPod sales behind it, and the aura that is currently surrounding the company, this year could bring a lot of changes.

Source: Softpedia

Nec Introduces the Laptop Without A Hard Disk

The Japanese company Nec has developed a laptop for corporate users that does not include in its configuration a hard disk. Named PC Parafield, the computer was developed as a replacement to the actual client systems and combines the possibility to work anywhere with improved data security.

Conventional laptops can be used anywhere, but they represent a security risk because they can be stolen. The new Nec system does not
store data by default, needing a network connection to the company’s servers. But such a connection is not always available.

The new laptop without a hard disk stores the operating system and the software applications locally in the flash ROM memory, the system being able to work without a network connection. Flash ROM memories are usually used for storing BIOS and firmware in electronic devices, but they have limited reprogramming possibilities.

Apparently, PC Parafield looks like a normal laptop, and its specifications are standard besides the absence of the hard disk. It features an Intel Pentium M processor that runs at 1,73 GHz and has Windows XP Professional OS. 3 GB of flash ROM are available for storing the operating system and the additional software, and the featured RAM memory is 512 MB. The display has a 1024 X 768 pixels resolution (XGA), measuring 12 inches.

Source: Softpedia

The 1 TB USB 2.0 HDD from LaCie

LaCie has launched an aluminum encased USB 2.0 external hard disk, which has an enormous 1TB storage capacity. The USB connectivity and the minimal software configurations make LaCie’s Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 a convenient storage solution.

Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 is a low cost alternative for backing up workstations or dealing with storage consuming applications. The new drive spins at 7200 RPM, has FireWire 800 (800Mbit/s), FireWire 400 (400Mbit/s), and
USB 2.0 (480Mbit/s) ports, and a maximum transfer rate of up to 55 MBs. The average seek time (write) is of 10 ms, and the Big Disk features also an 8 MB buffer.

LaCie’s Big Disk measures 173 x 44 x 272 mm and weighs 2.5 kg. Three capacity models are available: 1 TB, priced at 929 USD, 500 GB priced at 349 USD, and 600 GB priced at 429 USD. The 500 GB and the 600 GB models are very quiet because they don’t have any fans, while the 1 TB model features Smart Fan technology that cools the drive automatically, only when needed.

Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0 has an aluminum alloy case that dissipates the heat by drawing it away from the internal disk. The drives can be used in more ways: stacked, rack-mounted or upright standing.

‘There isn’t a drive on the market that can offer the affordability, design, versatility, convenience and performance of the LaCie Big Disk Hi-Speed USB 2.0”, says Olivier Mirloup, LaCie Senior Product Manager.