Laptop Misconceptions and Tech News Roundup
by Liam Bailey
2008-03-04 19:10:00 **news**
I just read a laptop buying guide. According to Digital Trends' Josh Norem the most important consideration when choosing a laptop is screensize, because it ultimately affects the overall size, and therefore weight of the notebook, as well as potentially affecting battery life. Josh then covered the pros and cons of each size of laptop from ultra-portable right through to desktop replacements.
For my mind he was too critical of desktop replacements. While he is right that you don't get great battery life, I disagree with his observation that they run ludicrously hot, mine certainly doesn't, but then I wouldn't say none do, because it is wrong to make sweeping generalizations about anything. What he also failed to mention is the fact that desktop replacements are generally a lot cheaper than their slim and lightweight counterparts, while often having equal or better performance attributes.
Meanwhile in other technology news, new software that allows users to feel and touch textured images is being trialled, and Trend analyst Nils Müller of Trend One announced a new world was almost upon us, where humans would be able to self-upgrade, his exact words were:
"Evidence of the '4.0' era -- an "always-on" world where humans can "self-upgrade" through technology extensions -- is already nigh and being driven by the youngest generation, according to Müller"
Müller used the recent Barbie Girls, virtual Barbie doll world, that had 3 million signed up users in sixty days, and the currently in Beta trials the AskWiki search Engine. Müller showed a video presentation of youngsters asking how far away is the moon, to display AskWiki natural search expression capabilities.
Microsoft were also previewing future technology, unveiling their collaborative search, searches running in sidebars and shared with friends on the fly. I on board with AskWiki I think it could be an amazing learning aid, but as for self upgrading humans I think we should keep that for the movies, and I doubt collaborative search has any viable use at all.
