802.11b-Server for Dummies, crossing a laptop with a tablet, PDA, and other

Invitation to the presentation has been arranged very mysterious. "This will present new laptops, including the pocket and promised to Toshiba. Deceived. There were no new handheld computers. And indeed any PDA, so that the "feel" was not. However, something interesting about the already known models, Toshiba, we still know, and besides the handheld during the presentation had something entertaining. Press conference started with an overview of the market and the position of Toshiba. Overview of turned out to be the next mandatory for admission into tediousness, if not an interesting figure. Toshiba has assessed the market structure of computers in general, for the first half of 2002. It turned out that the desktop computers in the sales took just over 93% of the server quite small, handheld PCs (meaning laptops!) Just over 5%. In absolute terms, laptops for six months has sold about 60 thousand. That is, for the year should be around 120 thousand. Here want to recall similar figures for the PDA market. Company MakTsentr not so long ago predicted that the CCP in Russia this year will be sold around 50 thousand, and the optimistic firm SmartMarketing generally called the figures of 100 thousand and more devices. It turns out that even by conservative estimates, PDAs, laptops behind only twice (c balance:). Honestly, for me it was a surprise. I was sure that the CCP is still sold considerably less than laptops. After the marketing side was followed by a brief review of the line wireless products. From the review interesting to show the server Magnia SG20. Outwardly, he did not like the usual dreary server box, and resembles rather a modern DVD-players. Actually, it looks this way because it is (a unique case!), Including for home use. This server is the "default" is equipped with hardware and software for the organization of the wireless networking standard, 802.11b (also known as Wireless LAN). Even an inexperienced user ("teapot", that is) can, according to company representatives, for 20 minutes completely connect the server and configure it so that it combined all the devices in a house in a single wireless network. In addition, Magnia SG20 can work as a wireless access point to the Internet. Cute and seemed laptop Satellite 5200. Not only is it just the apotheosis of wireless technologies - there is Bluetooth and Wireless LAN. It comes with a DVD-burner drive. Fun it's probably "cut" DVD on a laptop. And even more fun - to work with a series Satellite 1900. The new models in this series keyboard can be removed from the notebook and work with her ​​at a distance of up to ten meters away from the machine itself - they connect chereh Bluetooth. The set comes is the same "golubozubaya" mouse. However, this is not our subject, so that one can only apologize for the off-topic. Go to our subject. According to her, unfortunately, there were very few new features.Machines are not shown. Is that the presence of the journalists got bukletik about Toshiba e330 - such a beautiful, four pages. Nothing new, however, we have not learned from it. Plus, as an integral part of wireless solutions korporatinogo told about the Toshiba e740 - flagship range of PDAs. Emphasis on wireless technologies - important in positioning strategy Toshiba PDAs on the market. e740 has become an integral part of the corporate system. That is why, incidentally, to the Russian market will not be delivered "naked" version of this model, in which there will be Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b). "We are interested in moving to the Russian market is wireless, so we intentionally deliver here only the" older "model", - said Vladimir Korotkov, head of portable computers in the Russian office of Toshiba. Particular emphasis was placed in a presentation on a USB-station expansion and the battery, which - in theory - provides battery life up to 22 hours. Recall, if you use the station extension to the PDA can be connected to ordinary USB-device (if you find an appropriate driver, of course) and an external monitor to get the "ba-a-alshoy" pictures. A battery that extends the life of the CCP, is something like iPaq'ovskih jackets - heavy and thick. In addition, it was found that the PDA has recently granted not a one-year and two-year global warranty. Nice, but at this with handheld computers in the presentation was over. Rumors about the future as Toshiba e750 high-end company representatives declined to comment on. Another device that attracts attention and, in general, within the scope of our interests was the Portege 3500 - a hybrid notebook and tablet Tablet PC. Imagine edakiysovershenno unremarkable notebook - klaviaturka, screen - which suddenly "rolled up his head," that is deploying the upper half of the vertical axis. Keeps the entire mechanism on a metal hinge, the strength of which can not but cause concern. However, experts Toshiba repeatedly assured skeptical press that "made in the century." Well, so much better, but it is not the case. "Displacement of the head" - not just a pleasant "Fennec." Dovernuv screen up to a certain position, you can "put" it on top of the keyboard, prvrativ device in Tablet PC, however, quite "chubby". Recruitment software - is also quite advanced Tablet PC. There is a recognition of voice commands and even nadiktovki text, handwriting recognition system. However, from all this, not really too much, because applications are not localized - only work with the English language. More from the "tablet" programs have been found magazine, stickers (reminders on the screen), Symbol Commander (it can be used as a means of Graffiti, run macros). More cars have a very curious stylus ...As far as I understood from the explanation "toshibovtsev, it uses technology similar to the one that is in the tablets Wacom - around the screen is a certain field in which the stylus begins to vibrate and thus finds itself. As a result, if the stylus is at a distance of several centimeters from the screen, the screen behind him running the mouse cursor, but if you carry a stylus directly on the screen - and you can just as when using the Touch Screen. However, given that the company does not know the answer to the question "Which of the halves is the processor?" To explain the principles of the stylus can not be taken seriously. The authors, translation:

IT-Goodwill Games from Hewlett-Packard

Yesterday in the entertainment complex "Snowstorm" a solemn meeting of the Club Champions Hewlett-Packard "and awarding the winners of Round 4 of the program - a kind of" IT-Goodwill Games. " Deliberative - entirely athletes, members of the Komsomol (the past), and top managers of large Moscow firms, product distributors, HP. But to begin with a brief background to the event. In order to stimulate sales, PR-managers of the Moscow office HP decided to organize a capitalistic competition between resellers. The mechanism of the event was borrowed from the Soviet ideology, changed only the titles and dates: the reporting period (Five) were the rounds, a program which had to meet or exceed over 4 months old. Labour blast working on a plan of organizers, rewarded financially. It is curious that it was not without ideological inspiration. Each stage of the program (they passed only four) was ideologically furnished. The same four, in which participated MakTsentr, for example, was perceived by participants as a "Goodwill Games". Each dealer HP, responsible for which type of product is assigned to the sport. Thus, the sellers pocket computers, for example, competed in the category "Sports in the clouds." Thus, mandated to hold a meeting of the Club Champions Hewlett-Packard "was Nikolai Fomenko, with all ensuing consequences. In his opening remarks, he walked about the letter combinations HP (in Russian transcription - "CP"): "Think about these letters - to persuade the audience Champions lead - remember with what they have assotsiiruyutya. We know them from early childhood. Each student will tell us that where P is, there is X, and vice versa, and so on ... " In short, the one who ordered the music, not enough thought:) But this Fomenko. It can be. And even need ... It started rewarding. Drummers of capitalist competition is not bored, eating all sorts of snacks and occasionally getting his due from the master. Finally, it came to "debriefing" MakTsentr and competing firms. Recall that our colleagues were in the category "Sports in the clouds." And here it is necessary to make a small digression. Rules of the Game, which took MakTsentr, stated: "Athletes, elated by success and experience, will receive 2 points for each iPAQ H3830, 3850, 3950 and by 5 points for iPAQ H3870, 3970." Best sellers, according to a plan of HP, will be three. Each of them will win at his level - a complex, medium or light. Win in an easy means to show the class in mid-air freestyle, on average - in aircraft modeling, in a complex - in hang gliding. Winner of the level determined by the sum of the scores and gets valuable prizes and gifts. Return to normal activity. As a result, the race for gliders (intricate level or first place) won MakTsentr, gaining as much as 882 points! Who would doubt ...:) Hurrah! Director of Dmitry Markovich Havzhu was awarded an honorary diploma and a certificate for a gift - SLR camera Olympus Camedia C4040.

The same degree ...:)

The most courageous jumper (light level) was recognized as the Moscow company "Warum", for which its director has got the HP ScanJet 5470 and the winner in the competition for aircraft modeling (Intermediate) was the company Elekton headed by Alexander Fuzeevym. The second place gave him a HP digital photo studio, consisting of a PhotoSmart printer 7150 and digital camera HP PhotoSmart 215. However, this debriefing was not limited. Ahead for another exhibition. Fomenko made three distinguished directors push-ups. You bet! Why not make a real drummer capitalist labor extra incentive prize - a bottle of champagne from the hands of Soviet popular leader ... It turned out, something which, as this is not exactly do that. Anyway, not everyone ...

Left to right: model aircraft, gliders and parachutists

So, on a plastic mat, MakTsentr once again confirmed his title. Parachutist already at the tenth regime fizzled out, closer to the Twentieth exhausted model aircraft, gliders and calmly pushed, wondering what's going on with their rivals. After the speech, the winner, as expected, gave an interview to leading, which assured the audience of the benefits of morning exercises for body, soul and business:) What we actually do not doubt ...:) authors, translation:

CeBIT 2003: Offtopic

It just so happened that while our editors are preparing a serious photography and serious coverage, dropped a minute to write about all the fun that observed at CeBIT 2003, our roving digital camera Casio QV-R3:) (more details about the camera). Well, now that a report is written, then delay its release is quite useless. We offer you a selection of gags CeBIT'a. Here's a funny robot strongly rotating head, went on the stand Institute Fraunhofer. With true "terminatorskim" red gleam in his eye robot collected on the pool table balls, deftly dodging the walls and obstacles. But this system will be useful to start auto-service employees. It is a kind interactive manual for disassembly of aggregates. Enough to wear special glasses and look at the engine ... Directly opposite the real nuts on the engine lid arrows will appear with instructions what to do. Just incredible. The system can recognize images and display contextual information on them. Unfortunately, for recognizing the need for special tags, the number of species is limited. But it is quite interesting. A small chip inside a soccer ball can bring a lot of good. For example, he makes camera automatically follow the flight of the ball, will help to resolve disputed issues on the subject of goals, off-sides, etc. In general, an interesting solution, only a matter of attaching the chip inside the pump the air ball. These shoes will fit perfectly for James Bond. GPS in the heel, the transmitter in the insole, the antenna laces. A cool head and warm heart. And you could leave on a typewriter F1. It is true that far and only on the screen. In general, cars in the stands stood very much: Hammer, smart, athletic. However, that in itself is not interesting. Much more interest is cars with mounted electronics, but more on that read our other materials. Once is not izgolyayutsya manufacturers of desktop PCs. Sea of ​​neon and literally sea water cooling system - is now the most squeak. How about a mouse with a booster and anti-lock system joystick? For nostalgic for the Soviet pen with a small Gagarin flying inside. A special mouse with an astronaut.Most likely released in advance of this autumn - the planned launch of China's manned spacecraft. If we are talking about the desktop, then let me introduce the latest technology - with a vertical keyboard shortcuts, and rear-view mirrors:) Oh, I do not know how it is convenient to work with this keyboard, but the sample was submitted to a completely industrial. Will likely have to taste the road and motolyubitelyam:) If not mistaken, somewhere in the mid 20 th century, spread to some extent was a musical instrument called the theremin. Bringing the hand to an antenna or remove it, it was possible to extract from the instrument sounds of different pitch. At the booth Mitsubishi was surprised to find a modern version of theremin. Probably with lots of electronics inside:) Stand firm, offering services for the destruction of computers. Joke. In fact, the company is engaged in restoration of data. The entire bench littered with burned-out components, and from the form of computer types burnt on the table from time to time brings down the thick smoke. Horror sysadmin. Venus Nokiyskaya? Or guide to action? At the airport in Hamburg, you accompany a peculiar way. From time to time the unfortunate body shake. Dropped from the pockets of money are glued to the floor (checked:)). Interested parties can download the MPEG-An excerpt from the filmed process:) Mercedes - present. Chewing gum - is unlikely. Embracing the CeBIT, as well as all the immensity, it is simply impossible, but we try. Very soon, wait for the new fotoreporeportazh from the show. This time ...:) serious authors, translation:

Comtek-2003: "PDA market we have not noticed&quot

... That's for today summed up the situation, representatives of anti-virus company that produces software Dr.Web. He also said that the version of their applications for mobile devices is planned. On the one hand, the reason why, he said, was the uselessness of an objective view of the low prevalence of devices in our market, and with another - the need to protect the initial stage (ie, mail servers, desktop synchronization, etc.).. In general, all kind person showed that the product for handheld devices from Kaspersky, which is exhibited nearby, they nestrashen. Well, time will tell, but we'd better go through the mobile expositions Week of Information Technologies - Comtek, running from 22 to 25 April 2003 at the Expocentre in Krasnaya Presnya. Is on its way to the exhibition, I was looking forward to really worthwhile spectacle with all the consequences, as a: presentation of new devices, interesting people and cars, and much more. They arose these thoughts were many handhelds from people of different status in the streets of Moscow. There were both old enough devices (eg, Casio Cassiopeia E-125 in the hands of fragile blonde) and very fresh (eg, Sony Clie PEG-NZ90 in the hands of underage youngster). My expectations have begun to dispel is on its way to Krasnopresnensky pavilions, which receives a surprisingly small group of people that did not promise a large-scale show. Benefit in the opposite direction were satisfied visitors and were carrying a treasured freebie. I inspire and went to the first pavilion - the so-called "general part of the exhibition - Personal Computing Expo". As the site says its organizers, it is a "non-specialist section" Comtek ". According to established tradition, already the largest area of ​​the pavilion" Forum "took 1C, yellow agents," which, with due diligence have implemented all of passing bags, booklets, balloons. In general, kids, scurry from stand to stand, it was as old. Among the most interesting exhibits to us in this part of the exhibition is worth noting a lot of variety of notebooks. There are both standard options and subnotebooks, which by its dimensions slightly inferior keyboard device. Exhibited in the main pavilion and public computers that are a mix of laptop and desktop. Admittedly, this device is clearly aimed at the amateur, because along with the indisputable advantages, and have one big disadvantage - a small degree of transportability due to an external power supply. To weigh the pros and cons of the visitors were invited by the wonders worked with. To my surprise, the crowd was not all happening quietly and peacefully. Pleased and exhibited at the miniature PCs.By the standard monitor, keyboard, mouse and other inalienable attributes of computer life connects very small system unit. Cimpatichno and compact. But until the CCP is far ...:) In general, the desire for a minimalist, and as a consequence of mobility is obvious. Producers 'work on the patterns' high-tech mode, which requires preference miniature full-featured devices. On a lonely stand, located away from the hustle 1C, missed a consultant. It later emerged that an official representative of the Taiwanese firm Netac, engaged in production of flash memory. Russian users and our readers, the manufacturer may know, thanks to the unique CompactFlash-card slot with a cable that connects them directly to the port USB. The cost of these cards is not much higher than usual prices, but at the same time they come for owners of handheld devices, digital cameras and iPods. Sales (in particular MakTsentr) cards are available with capacities from 32 MB to 256 MB. Also in this part of the exhibition could be seen quite a lot of mp3-player ... ... And digital cameras that have attracted the attention of onlookers ... On my visit to this "national" part of the exhibition is over.

We now turn to business

Bypassing all the primary exposure, I was saddened to learn that this "Comtek-2003" for the national Ferris ends. At the same time remain unexplored pm Exhibition - "The business part of the exhibition - Business-to-Business". It seemed to me then, should be more interesting, because "visiting this part of the exhibit is only available for registered business users, which allows qualitative changes in the composition of visitors to this part and provides an opportunity for participants in a peaceful environment to present their products and services to interested professionals and business partners "and, accordingly, the level of the technologies should be higher. Expectations were met: the people was much smaller, and new products - the exact opposite. Among the familiar players and laptops are finally revealed signs of pocket-computer life. On the stand ASUS'a flaunted PDAs MyPal A600 and A620. For obvious reasons, attracted me more than the last. A company representative is very competently answered all the tricky questions about the device, and for more information advised to apply to the English-speaking assistant, that he says will give comprehensive information in the most authentic form.After our short conversation it turned out that the novelty will be in Taipei in late July, and we at the beginning of August. About the cost of the device until, of course, still early, but, according to a representative ASUS, it should be approximately equal to the current price of 600-th model, maybe a little more. Be equipped with reflective novelty (although the annotations to the device has been written about transflective - who to believe do not know) screen and install the operating system Pocket PC 2003. Also, according to the booklet, the model will equip with Intel XScale processor 400 MHz (whether it's PXA250 or PXA255 is still unknown, but surely the heart of the new machines will be the new same processor). Intelligence handheld will consist of 64 MB RAM and 32 MB ROM. 3.5-inch diagonal screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels can display 65536 colors. There are built-in microphone and speaker, as well as optional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. Expand the capabilities of this PDA will be using the standard slot Compact Flash Type II. His weight was 141 In the general standard Pocket PC Medium class:) At the request of our hands on a novelty I refused as I did not ask, so that the subjective impressions will not be. In any case, the model is very interesting, and therefore we will wait until it arrives. Further along the way met the company's stand SanDisk, which is known primarily for its memory cards. At the exhibition visitors showed also card readers, adapters and other devices with which these sandiskovskie flash compatible. Here again, the CCP was seen of all time - Casio Cassiopeia E-125. On the remaining area was not seen anything on the handheld-computer topics, but again fell Handsome ASUS S200 - the smallest and lightest notebook in the world, who came close to these figures to the PDA keyboard, but it's worth, though, is three times more expensive. Oh, and the Russification of pen-interpreter C-Pen - where do without it ...:) On this we are interested in a miniature computer is over, but began no less curious Offtopic.

Own Offtopic

Subjects beyond the pocket-computer topics, but at the same time, notable on this show was not very much. But nevertheless ... Entire pavilion was dedicated to a variety of delicacies of domestic and not very companies that are related to aviation, china, and even microwave ovens. In general, solid Offtopic on a computer exhibition. Our defense industry goes to ... the aquarium. Miracle-waza, which is beautifully lit, shimmering, and gives off smoke. Unique choice respecting genie! Keyboard HP 100LX handheld turns into ... portable analyzer nuclear materials based on CdTe-detector. With this exhibit I had a funny story. Began photographing an achievement of national genius, I noticed that I sent to a representative of the manufacturer, which is still a moment ago, bored in the side. Came and started questioning the consultant-ukoryayusche look at me. To somehow tie the conversation I said that actually these handhelds in the world for five years or both do not produce. Caretaker of domestic intellectual property is clearly offended and communicate for some reason declined. A pity ... Suddenly, we would have to turn your Rover P3 at the portable analyzer of nuclear materials based on CdTe-detector? However, is it we have to ...:) I would not have refused such monitorchika, and you? Just creatively decorated booth.

A small exhibition of big country

It is sad, but "Comtek" from year to year, all shallow. Visitors welcome half-empty halls, nedomontirovannye stands with sleepy malevolent employees. What is it? Reluctance of manufacturers show their new products to Moscow public, or lack thereof? Of course not. Maybe then fabulous price of rent in conjunction with a low prestige of the exhibition? But it already seems to be true. While organizers do not realize that we are not Hanover, and their offspring are not CeBIT, and producers do not feel that participation in this exhibition at least pay for itself, not to mention the profits, we will not see the "Comtek" nothing worth attention. In the case of a PDA, of course, still more complicated.So fans of handheld devices is better to go to the "Pilotovku" or go to the "Savyolovsky - much more fun and profit, and money for the ticket will not take. The authors, translation:

Berlin was taken, Siberia - ahead!

On the eve of celebrating the Day of Russia, the evening of 11 June, Hewlett-Packard has honored the winners - the foremost dealers - in the next stage of the Club Champions of HP ". The ceremonial meeting this time took place in the pompous restaurant "Grand Opera", receiving guests and entertaining Baron Munchausen with the charming Baroness aka Actors Theatre of "Satyricon" Gregory Siyatvinda and Angelina Varganova. Naturally, this event was not without company MakTsentr, which invariably involved in the initiatives of the manufacturer's most popular in Russia handheld computers. However, tell you more about what the "Champions Club HP" and his meeting ... At one time in order to stimulate sales, PR-managers of the Moscow office HP decided to organize a capitalistic competition between resellers. The mechanism of the event was essentially borrowed from the Soviet ideology, changed only the titles and dates: the reporting period (Five) were the rounds, a program which had to meet or exceed over 4 months old. Labour blast working on a plan of organizers, rewarded financially. It is curious that it was not without ideological inspiration. Each stage of the program (they passed only four) was ideologically furnished. At this time the fifth round of the battle for customers, which participated MakTsentr, held under the slogan: "Arise, great country!" Best sellers, according to a plan of HP, will be three. Each of them will win at his level - a complex, medium or light on the amount of points. For every sold under the program iPAQ H38xx series to be allocated 2 points. For every iPAQ H39xx series or iPAQ H5400 - 4 points each. Take the prize in a light means "to win Battle of Kursk," or, to put it literally, a digital photo studio (camera and printer from HP), on average - a guerrilla war or a TFT-monitor HP (18 "), in the complex - the Great Patriotic or two trips to Prague . The fifth round of the marketing program to support and develop value-added resellers, "Champions Club HP" was held in nine product categories, each of which had three levels of difficulty. prize places were taken by 33 participants. MacCentre Company, as in the previous stage, again won first place at the sophisticated level in the category "Handheld PCs" and was awarded a trip for two in romantic Prague. Thus, the "Berlin took" all three companies, which indicates that as yet about the narrow range of merchants engaged in handheld computers in the Russian market. Battle of Kursk won the Moscow-based company Lightnet Complex, and the names of heroes of the guerrilla war, as expected, remained unknown:))) None of the companies participating in the initiative, did not take the required number of points. Few of the awards ceremony. At this time in the best traditions of social events were entertainers, dressed in costumes of Peter the Great. As befitting manner, they invited the ladies and gentlemen of the prizes, and to train eager to get his due does not become a boring spectacle, in between dance teams waltzed to the sounds of ringing those times, which corresponded to the nomination. Of the awardees as usually required a few words, and the director MakTsentr Dmitry Havzhu turned into the hall, expressed his appreciation to HP and urged the audience "to participate actively in the program and develop the market of handheld computers, as competition stimulates growth, and passive zavoevyvanie first places slows development. In general, the testing of copper pipes MakTsentr seem too went for five. Let's hope that the appeal has been heard:) In the next round of the Club Champions HP ", which has already begun, the category PDAs will be a" deep forest "with a wild boar on the easy level, wolves - on average, and brown bears - the kings of the taiga animals - on the complex.More is coming ...:) authors, translation: