News Bits: Exploding Dell Laptop Investigated, New Vista Beta Release, Laptops and the Homeless

New Vista Build Released

Microsoft has released another build of its next-generation Vista operating system. Build 5456 is a rather large jump from Vista Beta 2, offering a number of improvements.
NeoSmart Blog states:

Some of the new features include a revamped Aero/DWM subsystem, and a completely overhauled and significantly less obtrusive UAP for all those that couldn't stand the previous one. From what we have been told by Microsoft, the Time Zone bug that plagued all most all previous builds of Windows Vista has been fixed and works great now, and quite a few fixes in the Regional Settings and IME are now implemented. And for the first time since Windows 3.0 Microsoft has finally announced that new mouse cursors will be made available for Windows - something they promised to do in XP with "Watercolors" but failed to deliver for internal reasons!

Beta testers can download the new build from the Windows Connect website.

Microsoft has decided to drop Windows Future Storage (WinFS) as a future update to the OS; WinFS Beta 2 has also been cancelled. WinFS was based on Microsoft SQL Server technology, supposed to do away with the traditional file/folder hierarchy.

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AMD to build $3.5bn fab in New York

It appears that the rumors are true - AMD is to contruct a 300mm wafer fab in Saratoga County, New York. At a cost of $3.5 billion, the fab will be used to produce 32nm processors according to comments made by senior staffers.

Media reports claim AMD has been offered $1 billion in incentives by the local government to help AMD make up its mind. Work is expected to begin in July 2007, completion in July 2009, and chips are slated to roll off the production line by 2010.

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Notebook shipments growing in Asia

Despite a weak global demand, notebook shipments have been growing in Japan, China, and other Asia-Pacific markets during the first quarter according to industry sources.

According to International Data Corporation (IDC), notebook shipments in the first quarter in Japan grew 31% to a total of 2.03 million units, 9% in China to 1.18 million units and 12% to 2.81 million units in the rest of the Asia-Pacific region.

During the same period, the US saw notebook shipments slip 9% to 5.66 million units; shipments in Western Europe plunged 26% to 5.15 million units. In spite of continuing growth in Asia, Taiwan makers have estimated global shipments to drop 10% sequentially in Q2.

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Laptop Sales in the UK outpace Desktop PC sales for April / May

For the first time in the UK laptops have eclipsed sales of desktop PCs in retail stores. At a major retailer in the UK, PC World, sales of laptops were 10% greater than desktops during the April and May months. Last year desktop sales were 20% higher than laptops. The trend continues for more and more people to buy a laptop as a PC rather than a desktop.

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Exploding Dell Investigated

On Friday, Dell was investigating why one of its notebooks exploded into flames at a conference in Japan. The Inquirer has pictures; no one was hurt, thankfully. A Dell spokesman confirmed that the computer was a Dell, but did not give any further details.

The spokesman commented:

[I]"We're aware of it, and we're digging into the details. There's an investigation going on right now. When something like this happens, we want to know why."[/I] [p][URL=http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=34060&src=site-marq]Read More[/URL] [p] [p][B]Laptops give hope to the homeless[/B] [p][img]http://www.notebookreview.com/assets/13486.jpg[/img][/p] [p]Homeless people are more tech-savvy than most of us are inclined to think. Many homeless people make it a priority to keep gadgets handy, even when a cooked meal is hard to come by. [/p] [p]Although they may not have a roof over their heads, many homeless people have laptops or cell phones with them. Nearly all homeless people have Email addresses according to Michael Stoops, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. He claims, "The Internet has been a big boon to the homeless." [/p] [p][URL=http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71153-0.html?tw=rss.technology]Read More[/URL] [p] [p][B]Interesting Links[/B] [p][URL=http://dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=2985]Intel's "Woodcrest" to launch Monday[/URL] [p][URL=http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060623-7124.html]US not prepared for Internet outage[/URL] [/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p][/p]

 

Personally I think having a laptop and internet connecting is far more important than having a roof over my head

I'd be very curious to know what caused the explosion of that Dell laptop and which one it was exactly.

They're desperately looking for tenants for the new Freedom Tower that's going up where the World Trade Centers were. If AMD wants to come to New York, what cooler place to have a chip fab than there? Okay, so that's not very practical I guess.

 

Looks like a Dell Latitude D610 to me. Anyway I suspect insufficient cooling and prolonged use without cleaning the vents.

 

Thanks Chaz, second time I laughed at that since you posted it in OT. =p

It looks like an inspiron 5150 to me, those things were notoriously scalding. My dad had one so I know first hand.

 

Cursors....wow what a technological advance!

 

I'd be curious to know how many homeless have come here in search of there ideal laptop. o.o;

 

One can make a good assumption that the cause of the exploding Dell is a battery malfunction. I wonder, if it happens again, there will be a lawsuit demanding a reimbursement of the damaged computer equipment or the hefty medical bill for treating first degree burns on the lower torso??

 

AMD plant in Malta. Probably time to widen the Northway again.

 

Hmm...So I am destined to be a homeless person. *Runs away from NBR* Ha ha...just kidding. NBR is ruining my life but I love it. LOL
Tim

 

*Hoping for my Dell to blow up*

I wont mind exchanging it for a fully speced out XPS M2010 lol. Or better yet tons of dough if I sue Dell lol. My lappy has some very bad heat issues and its due for a replacement. Problem is Im not in the US at the moment. BLOW UP BLOW UP BLOW UP!!!

 

Be evil and blow it up yourself...Not a hard thing to do