| GammaTech Subsidiary FremonTek Opens Repair Services to Public for All Makes of Notebook PCs
FremonTek Corporation, the authorized laptop repair subsidiary of GammaTech, today announced the debut of direct-to-public notebook PC repair. While continuing its RMA repair services on GammaTech, Averatec and Durabook laptops, FremonTek now offers prompt, expert repair on all major brands of notebooks. FremonTek provides a full range of laptop repair services including LCD scratch repair, motherboard repair, battery replacement, laptop hard drive upgrades, AC/DC adapter replacement, memory upgrades, combo CD-RW upgrades, and keyboard replacements. Repairs can be initiated in person at its repair depot in Fremont, California, or online at www.fremontek.com. "FremonTek distinguishes itself by focusing exclusively on laptops. Our technicians have over 10 years of repair experience, on average," said Kevin Liu, customer services manager for FremonTek Corporation.
Sabayon Linux: Something for everyone
The Sabayon Linux live DVD distribution, based on the unstable branch of Gentoo Linux, has been in development for several years and caters to a wide variety of users. Having started out with a beautiful but mainstream appearance, it now boasts one of the most unique looks in Linux and more usability options than most other distros. The distribution offers premium open source games, accelerated desktop effects, a large and varied software suite, and several variations. Besides the full release, Sabayon also comes in a Business Edition and usually a Mini edition. With all it has to offer, Sabayon has something for everyone. .
MIKE WENDLAND: Computers become college essentials
For thousands of college-bound students and their bill-paying parents, the start of the new academic year means one more major expense: a notebook computer. "It is equally if not more critical for them to have a notebook computer than a pen and paper," says Mary Waker, director of the Education Technology Center at Wayne State University's College of Education. "Students today have to have all the resources available, and they have to be available whenever and wherever they happen to be. Notebook computers are essential tools for college students." .
Briefly: iPhone parts store, Shuffle parody
In brief: An iPhone parts store launches, Micronet debuts a 48-Port Gigabit Web Smart Switch, a game development contest is underway, and a parody demonstrating the "iPhone Shuffle" has been posted ... iFixit has launched an iPhone Parts Store that sells every part needed to repair your iPhone including batteries, displays, case components, logic boards, and more. There is also a free guide that features clear pictures and detailed instructions for replacing any part in the iPhone. Installation instructions are tailored to allow the removal and replacement of any component, including the rear panel, headphone jack, battery, logic board, and display assembly. The guide also shows you how to secure your iPhone by removing the internal camera, important because many secure facilities do not allow cameraphones.
Gaming laptops are a complete joke
THERE IS A RAGING debate between me and the rest of the world over gaming laptops. Most people think they are the hottest thing since sliced bread, I think they are about as dumb as you can get. It begs the question, if all of your friends said enemas were cool, would you get one? The concept is a good one, in theory, but falls flat in reality. The promise is to have a portable machine that plays games as well as it does all the things you want a laptop for. All the machines to date fail on both accounts, with only a nod to portability. Let's look at the pros of the current crop of gaming laptops. They are, in no particular order: 1) More portable than a desktop
2) Fanbois think you are cool Now let's look at the down sides, again in no particular order: 1) Very expensive
2) Proprietary hardware that is unfixable if it breaks
3) Proprietary hardware that is unupgradable
4) Slow CPUs
5) Slow buses
6) Slow memory
7) Slow HDs
8) GPU makers lie about the capabilities of mobile GPUs (the 5000M is every bit as good as a 5000, really)
9) They are heavier than a normal laptop
10) They are as portable as a phone book
11) Battery life measured in hummingbird wingflaps
12) Screen responses measured in glacial movement units
13) Keyboards and mice that pale in response to a Logitech G5/G15
14) Lots of expensive crap bolted on you will never use Let's look at these in detail, shall we? The initial count says two wins for 14 losses, but the devil is in the details.
Microcontroller suits data-driven display applications.
Designed for embedded and portable applications that require RTC and LCD controller, Model MAXQ3100 features 16 Kb EEPROM, 1 Kb SRAM, watchdog timer, 2 serial ports (USARTs), and 3 timers. It includes digitally trimmable RTC with dedicated backup battery pin, LCD interface that supports up to 160 segments, frequency-locked loop, 2 analog comparators, and digital temperature sensor. Unit achieves low power through MAXQ dynamic clock gating and true 1-clock execution technology.
Related categories: Computer Hardware & Peripherals .
After 20 years, recycling efforts still strong
AREA -- Recycling has once again become a hot-button topic, thanks in part to Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," which pushed the issue of global warming back into the spotlight. New Jersey adopted mandatory recycling in 1987 under Governor Tom Kean, which left the state's 22 solid waste districts and its 567 municipalities with the task of managing their own programs, including keeping the statistics, establishing ordinances, setting fines for non-compliance, policing the residents and businesses, and getting out the message. It's been 20 years since New Jersey residents and businesses took up the cause, below we check with six of our local municipalities and see what and how they're doing. The newest addition to the extensive Chatham Borough recycling program is that of textile collection and recycling that commenced in 2006.
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