Hasta La Gadget!

On one level, this video is fun because it explains how computers work in the most dumbed-down language imaginable. On another level, it’s from the 90s, the golden early age of the internet. And it’s aimed at the elderly, creating the trifecta.

Yes, Surfing for Seniors is a real gem, explaining how computers work in terms old people understand, like fair games and libraries. The video itself isn’t too exciting, mostly consisting of a shot of this old lady’s back as she scrolls up and down intercut with close-ups of her clicking those mouse buttons of hers. But the sensible, incredibly dumbed down advice is pretty awesome. [Cynical C via The Daily What]

Who said poetry doesn’t pay?

For a chance to win, write some pithy words at CrunchGear to win a notebook from our sites JournalEngraver.com or NotebookEngraver.com Remember that you can engrave corporate logos or photographs and that there are discounts for orders starting at just two units and free shipping on all orders over $50.

At last count there were 70-some responses with the following favorite from “mkechaz”:

Can’t seem to understand the words I type
perhaps it would be better via Skype
A moleskin with any moniker will do
for one who wants for further spew.

There are some other real gems in there but they were also just un-printable here (but definitely good for a laugh)!!  Visit the CrunchGear blog and vote for your fave!

Each passing holiday season has become a critical, missed chance for Sony to catch up with the Xbox 360, and it’s starting to become silly to say “maybe next year.”

According to Microsoft reported retailer data, the Xbox 360 outsold the PS3 3:1 in the US on Black Friday. Needless to say, aside from sales on that particular day, it’s probably an indicator of complete 2008 holiday sales for these two competitors.

Of course, the notably absent data was regarding the Nintendo Wii’s sales on Black Friday. But our guess is that if Microsoft toppled that giant, even for a day, they would have mentioned it (at the top of their lungs from the tallest mountain they could find). [Kotaku]

If true, I love this: According to Pioneer, this 16-layer 400GB optical disc can be read in any normal Blu-ray player. And it’s only the beginning, because they have planned 1TB for 2013.

The technology of the super multi-layer read-only disc is based on Blu-ray Disc (BD) with a breakthrough in material of reflective layers, according to Pioneer High Fidelity Taiwan. The specifications of the pick-up head (PUH) of the disc is the same as those for the PUH of blank BD discs, and therefore the Pioneer discs can be read on BD players.

How is this possible, you ask? I don’t know for sure. In theory, it may be compatible, since they both use 405 nanometer heads, but then again, the track pitch is different (10 and 14 nanometer in the Pioneer super-disc versus 25 nanometer in a Blu-ray disc). But Pioneer seems pretty adamant about it in their statement. Maybe existing Blu-ray players would only need a firmware update? We will have to wait and see when it’s released during the next year. [Digitimes]

One look at this conglomeration and you pretty much know it’s from Brando. Their latest clunky tech masterpiece is officially named a USB Notebook Cooling Pad + 3-Port Hub + 2.5″ HDD.

At its core, the system is a dual-fan USB-powered laptop cooler with extra USB ports. Enter Brando, and this simple device gets injected with a rear-loaded 2.5″ SATA hard drive dock to add extra storage. It’s hard to believe that the average laptop USB port can power two fans, a SATA drive and three additional USB devices, but it looks like there’s AC power to back up the system (the product description was a bit light on this point).

The USB Notebook Cooling Pad + 3-Port Hub + 2.5″ HDD is available now for $33. Live it up. [Brando]