Hasta La Gadget!

I’ve gotten used to my computer rig making lots of noise, when it’s totally quiet, it usually indicates some sort of a hardware failure. Some computers run 24/7 and generate a lot of heat because getting work done. While there are certainly some machines out there that have no fans and are pretty quiet, Redditor DeFex wanted to build a rig that was completely silent, by doing away with fans, and all other moving parts.

His DIY silent computer  features a 65W Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge processor, so it’s powerful enough to handle all his media center needs. A solid state disk replaces a traditional IDE drive, which gets noisy. SSDs also generate less heat. This system also has no DVD or Blu-ray drive. In order to cool this computer, DeFex picked up a large 10″×7″ heatsink from HeatSinkUSA, which draws away heat from the motherboard.

The case includes some parts that were 3d-printed using a MakerBot 3D. The overall project is pretty cool, though it’s still a work in progress. You can check out more pics of the build over on imgur.

[via Liliputing]

Microsoft has been bragging about the sales figures for Windows 8 touting 40 million licenses sold. Microsoft has also bragged that Windows 8 upgrades have outpaced Windows 7 upgrades. However, rumors are circulating that internally Microsoft is unhappy with the rate at which consumers are adopting Windows 8.

According to the rumor, Microsoft is unhappy with the adoption rate and Windows 8 sales haven’t met Microsoft’s internal projections. The source of the rumor also claims that Microsoft is blaming computer makers and their “inability to deliver” compelling hardware. Wired reports that computer makers are saying that it’s not their fault Windows 8 isn’t selling better.

Wired reports that the consensus among computer makers that it spoke with is that Windows 8 devices are meeting or almost meeting sales projections. One OEM also noted that it had lower expectations for Windows 8 than previous launches because the field is more crowded. Toshiba America’s PC and TV business VP Jeff Barney said that Windows 8 device sales were “going as predicted.”

Barney also noted that it sounds as if Microsoft may have been more optimistic with sales predictions. Computer manufacturers expect the momentum of Windows 8 to continue to grow throughout 2013. Many manufacturers also say that consumers should expect more touch-focused devices running Windows 8 as computer makers attempt to fight tablets on more even footing.

[via Wired]

PC makers: It’s not our fault people don’t care about Windows 8 is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Razer has updated its Orochi gaming mouse with a new, more powerful sensor that provides better accuracy, as well as offering about double the battery life of its predecessor. You can grab the device now for the gamer on your gift list and get it in time for Christmas. The device is priced at $69.99 for those in the US, and €69.99 for those on the other side of the pond.

The Orochi can be connected two ways: wirelessly via Bluetooth 3.0, or wired for those who need a slightly more archaic connection method. The device runs a new, more precise laser, which Razer touts as the most powerful laser available in a mobile mouse. The laser sensor is a 6,400dpi 4G unit that “promises to take out the competition with deadly accuracy.”

For those who choose to use the Orochia via a Bluetooth connection, the unit is powered by two AA batteries. You can expect to get about 30 hours of continuous use, which is double the life of the previous iteration. The battery rating equals about three months of conventional usage, according to the press release.

RazerGuy Robert Krakoff offered this statement. “We want our dedicated fans to keep the ability to game at the high level they demand when they leave their home. Companies including Razer make mobile gaming laptops for that and, with those, there needs to be a mobile mouse solution. The Razer Orochi answers that need. We believe we’ve ushered in a new era of mobile gaming with the extreme performance and portability of our Blade laptop and Orochi gaming mouse.”

[via Razer]

Razer’s Orochi gaming mouse gets laser and battery life boost is written by Brittany Hillen & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Over 60 years since the first digital computers switched on, the chances of seeing one of these pioneers in action have grown incredibly slim as time (and recycling) takes its toll. Take a visit to Britain’s National Museum of Computing in Bletchley Park as of today, however, and you’ll see one working. A finished 3-year restoration effort lets the Harwell Dekatron — at one point renamed the Wolverhampton Instrument for Teaching Computation from Harwell, or WITCH — claim the title of the world’s oldest functional digital computer still using its original design. Aside from its room-filling dimensions, the 1951-era mainframe may be worth the trip just for recalling a time when there were no hard and fast rules in computing: the Dekatron operates in its namesake decimal system, not binary, and puts most of its components on full display. The computer is part of the regular exhibit lineup and should be easy to see; the daunting part may be realizing that virtually any chip in a 2012 smartphone could outmuscle the Dekatron without breaking a sweat.

Filed under: Desktops, Misc, Alt

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Via: Slashdot

Source: National Museum of Computing

Back in August, a tiny little computer called Ubi popped up on Kickstarter. Ubi – which is short for Ubiquitous Computer – was a big hit with Kickstarter backers. Team Ubi was only asking for $36,000, but by the time everything was said and done, the group had a whopping $229,594 to work with. It seems they wasted no time in getting to work either, as Ubi went up for pre-order today.

The Android-based Ubi plugs into a regular old power outlet and connects to the Internet through Wi-Fi. Once you’ve got the Ubi set up and ready to go, you can do things like search the Internet through voice commands. The Ubi will communicate back by either using the lights on its side or through speech, which we have to say is pretty awesome.

It can also be used to monitor the environment around you, as it comes equipped with sensors to monitor temperature, air pressure, and ambient light. You can program Ubi to send alerts to your email or your phone thanks to the handy app the Ubi team has developed for iOS and Android. The microphone and speakers on the device mean that the Ubi can also be used as a speakerphone or for conference calls, which is a nice little touch.

Even better is that you can sync Ubi to the other devices on your network. The computer is available for pre-order now, and if you manage to order one before they begin shipping in early 2013, you’ll be saving a significant chunk of change. Those who pre-order the device will only pay $219, whereas the Ubi will cost $269 once it’s been officially released. Are you picking one up?

[via Ubi]

Ubi Ubiquitous Computer pre-orders now available is written by Eric Abent & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.