News Bits: Dell Promotes Environment, Targus ExpressCard Docking Station, Buy an OLPC Laptop

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CES 2007: Dell promotes planting trees to help the environment

At CES 2007 on Tuesday, Mr. Dell in a speech encouraged the electronics industry to promote the planting of trees to help offset the effect of energy consumption from the devices they produce on the environment.

Dell will start a program called &quot;Plant a Tree for Me,&quot; which will entail asking customers to donate $2 for every notebook and $6 for every desktop; the money will be given to the Conservation Fund and the Carbonfund. Both groups are nonprofit and promote ways to reduce carbon emissions; the money will be used to plant trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and help to counteract the emissions from electric producing plants.

To further help the environment, Dell will be offering free recycling, and challenged every other PC vendor to join them. &quot;This is a better way than government regulation,&quot; said Mr. Dell.

Customers will be able to place donations when they order a Dell PC. The program will be expanded in April overseas.

Read More (New York Times)

CES 2007: Targus announces new ExpressCard Universal Notebook docking station

January 8th - Targus today announced a new Universal ExpressCard Notebook Docking Station with Digital Video and Audio. It features a single ''one-touch'' high-speed interface, and can transfer data at rates up to four times faster than USB (maximum 2.5Gbps).

With true video output capability, the Targus Universal Docking Station allows users to connect a monitor to the docking station via a DVI or VGA port.

The Targus Universal Docking Station features the following:

• Connectivity: 4x USB 2.0 ports, 1x Serial, 1x 15-pin VGA, 1x DVI, 1x SPD/IF, Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000), 5.1 analog 3.5mm jacks for speakers/microphone.
• Security: Built-in standard notebook slot lock
• Sound: Speakers can be digitally connected via the SPDIF port to add 5.1 surround sound
• Video: Video resolutions up to UXGA (1600x1200) are supported in different modes
• Design: Wedge shape improves ergonomics, minimizes footprint, and promotes airflow
• Dimensions: 11.96 x 3.66 x 1.04 inches.
• Weight: 14.01 ounces

The dock is powered by an AC adapter and has plug and play connectivity. It will automatically recognize new USB devices without rebooting. The Targus ExpressCard Docking station is compatible with notebooks that feature an integrated ExpressCard slot, requires that a provided driver be installed, and Windows XP Professional. The Universal ExpressCard Notebook Docking Station has an MSRP of $189.99 and includes a one-year warranty.

Read More (Business Wire)

OLPC $100 laptop could go public

The One Laptop Per Child project may be looking to sell laptops to the public. One possibility is that the customer would have to buy two of the laptops, where the second laptop would go to a child in a developing country.

Five million OLPC XOs will be shipped in summer 2007. eBay could be a possible selling partner.

Read More (BBC News)

Dell to auction custom painted WoW XPS M1710 gaming laptops

Image courtesy of Engadget

Dell had artist Mike Lavalee custom airbrush two limited edition XPS M1710 notebooks for the upcoming World of Warcraft Burning Crusade expansion, to be released on January 16. The laptops will be auctioned off in order to benefit World Harvest, an international humanitarian relief organization.

Read More (Engadget)

CES 2007: Targus releases Travel USB 2.0 hub with notebook light

January 8th - Targus today announced a new Trave USB 2.0 4-port hub with an integrated notebook light at CES 2007. Up to four USB devices can be connected to the hub at the same time, including mice, keyboards, MP3 players, and a variety of other accessories. The integrated notebook light illuminates the keyboard and swivels up to 180 degrees to maximize effectiveness. The light can attach to the screen via a built-in clip and features a 2 ft. extension USB cable. The USB hub does not require an external Ac adapter.

The Targus Travel USB 2.0 4-port Hub with Notebook Light has an MSRP of $29.99 and comes with a one-year warranty.

Read More (Business Wire)

 

That Dell Tree program is really great. It's nice to see a corporation taking a step in the right direction on their own...in a world of Enrons...

 

Definitely loving the one tree program. I think it should just be included in the price for all computers. I know the whole "making customers pay for something" is "wrong", but $2 and $6? They won't even notice, and in the computer box you can just add a card explaining it. I'm pretty sure there won't be any complaints. It's like the recycling fee added to some bottled beverages bought in bulk. It would be even better if all the major computer vendors join in.

 

I think Dell is taking a step in the right direction with the "Plant a Tree for Me" program. I'd like to see the $2 and $6 charges matched by the company though.

 

A definite kudos to Dell on the tree program. They're pretty aggressive on making recylcing computers easy too.

 

The Targus dock sounds nice. Too bad no s-video though

 

about the Targus Dock using the Express Card slot, or really, docks in general: is there a point to having a notebook dock other than having to remove only 2 wires (AC and USB, or in this case only AC and EXpress Card) as opposed to like 4 different wires? Like in terms of having an external monitor, wouldn't you get better resolutions by plugging directly into a notebook?

 

yeah the company that shipped 1000s of jobs to the 3rd world really "cares"...yeah right...

 

well maybe shipping the jobs prevented them from laying more people off. Centering a company's horizons on a single country doesn't make it any more "caring". If you really want to think about it in those terms, people in 3rd world countries need the jobs much more as the availability of jobs and the quality of lives there are much worse. From a worldly perspective, Dells decision to outsource jobs made it all that much more "caring" as not only is it giving poor people opportunities, but also making sure that it stays competitive so that its current employee base remains employed. If an American company can make money off foreign nations, then why can't those foreign nations get some of it back.

 

offshoring of jobs <> outsourcing of jobs...common mis-understanding...

 

Sounds like somebody got replaced by a third-worlder that's probably more knowledgable and more dedicated.