Toshiba dynadock U- USB dock for notebooks/ netbooks

Toshiba has introduced a new docking solution for notebooks and netbooks that packs a ton of utility into a slim tower form.  The Toshiba dynadock U is a USB docking solution that contains a high-res graphics processor allowing the usage of big monitors with any notebook.  The dock packs a punch by providing a lot of features for even the most demanding user:   

• One cable connection from your PC to all your devices
• Universal compatibility with all Windows-based PCs
• Built-in HD Digital Video card supports up to 1920x1200 resolution
• Built-in Digital Audio card adds virtual 7.1 surround sound through S/PDIF port
• Space-saving upright slim design reduces cable clutter
• View up to three displays simultaneously
• Provides six USB 2.0 ports--two front Sleep-and-Charge USB ports supplying power even if PC is off
• Hot swappable - add or remove most devices without rebooting the PC
• Easily and safely undock with undock button
• Dimensions and weight: 1.8” x 3.1” x 8.75” ; 1.13 lb
• Ports: six USB 2.0, S/PDIF, LAN, VGA, DVI, microphone, headphone and lock slot
• In the box: One Toshiba dynadock, base plate, USB cable, AC Adapter and CD-ROM

The inclusion of the HDMI and S/PDIF ports means the most sophisticated monitors and audio systems can be used with even the lowest netbook.  We particularly like the two USB ports on the front of the dynadock which are powered even when the laptop is not running allowing the charging of phones and other gear.  $150.

Get your junk out of the trunk

I have been warned by the local authorities that with the holiday season there are a lot of reports of laptops and gear bags being stolen from the trunks of cars.  This has always been a problem but I'm told it's getting much worse with the holiday season getting thieves anxious to get their hands on your gear.  The rash of thefts are occuring during the lunch hour at popular restaurants.  The innovative thieves are using electronic trunk openers they can get on the Internet and they walk around the parking lot popping the opener until something opens.  A lot of professionals leave their briefcases and gear bags in the trunk of the car and these bad guys are getting them by simply pushing a button.  Authorities are strongly encouraging us to not leave our gear in the car- take it in with you to keep it safe.  That's our public service announcement for the day.

Surprise: enterprises pushing for netbooks

Netbooks are those cute little laptops that we've come to love so much.  We must because we're buying them in record numbers and everybody is entering the market, except Apple.  One thing we say often about netbooks is that they meet the needs of a lot of different user types.  They are wonderful travel companions due to their small and light footprint, they can do email and web stuff well and they are fairly capable devices for a laptop so cheap. This leads to the question- would netbooks survive in the enterprise?

I had an interesting conversation with someone in the industry who is in a position to know about such things.  He's asked me to not divulge his identity nor who he works for as it's not something they want up for public discussion.  Something was stated in this conversation that surprised me- enterprise customers are pushing OEMs to produce netbooks for them.  The reasoning is given that netbooks can do the bulk of what the enterprises need their workers to do and given the low cost compared to alternatives they seriously want to bring netbooks in the door.

This is not something that we'd normally expect to hear as netbooks are aimed at the "casual" computer user who needs a companion device for the home.  Road warriors have been vocal about the benefits of netbooks while on the road so perhaps we shouldn't be so surprised that savvy enterprises realize they meet the needs of some of their workers.  I would imagine that the appeal of a cheap laptop for their workers who travel a lot might be growing as they see netbooks that have a lot of capability inside.

So what kind of netbook do you think would appeal to the enterprise market?  Is Windows XP good enough for the enterprise?  Truth is it's probably preferred over Vista since many enterprises have refused to upgrade to Vista internally.  Would the enterprise netbook need gobs of memory, faster processors, what?  It's important to remember that adding capabilities to netbooks always results in higher cost and that's probably not a good thing, although the enterprise might be willing to bear that extra cost.  Corporate netbooks would likely still be cheaper than the full-blown laptops they are buying now so who knows?  We're interested in your thoughts on the prospect of an enterprise netbook, especially if you work in such an environment.

Laptop Cop locates lost laptops, offers access to remote data

Seems like everywhere I turn around these days, Skyhook Wireless is getting their service into a new product. They're the company that has a database with a large number, as in tens of millions, of WiFi location points. Calling their service WPS for "Wi-Fi Positioning System", Skyhook offers location information based on their vast collection of WiFi data. Think of it similar to cellular triangulation which uses local cell-phone towers to give you a rough estimate of your handset's location. It's used for phone location services and geo-tagging photos with an Eye-Fi SD camera card to name a few applications.

So what does Skyhook Wireless have its "hooks" into now? Laptop Cop, oft confused with its less mobile cousin, Desktop Cop. OK, not really. Laptop Cop from Awareness Technologies provides laptop protection in case your device is lost or stolen. You can retrieve files from your missing notebook, show the contents of your far-away hard drive and even remotely wipe files that you don't want found from prying eyes. Laptop Cop runs quietly hidden so any would-be notebook thief won't realize it's there. Besides, you can geo-locate your lappy and might even get it back with Laptop Cop, although I wouldn't go after it myself. I'd call the real cops and provide the location info to them. Sorry, too many C.S.I. episodes have spooked me away from a do-yourself crime fighter career.

At $50 for 1 to 10 licenses, Laptop Cop might cater more to the enterprise since there are volume discounts for larger quantities. Still, if you travel a bunch and would be lost without your notebook and accompanying data, the price might right.

Brando dock with hard drive slot

Docks can be incredibly useful for notebook users who connect to a lot of peripherals at the desk.  One simple cable tug and the notebook is free to hit the gear bag and the street.  They are particularly useful for netbooks that often lack full amenities inside.  Odd product broker Brando has the strangest dock of them all.  Doubling as a laptop cooler, the dock adds fans to keep that notebook cool at the desk.  It also has the usual ports for peripherals and most interestingly a slot for a 2.5-inch SATA hard drive.  Add ports, cool air and storage in one whack.  The Brando dock also slices and dices too.  OK, that last parts fiction but the rest is true, here's a picture to prove it:  $33.  (via Gizmodo)

Good OS Cloud- Google Chrome on steroids?

The people who gave us gOS have announced the Cloud operating system for netbooks and the like.  Cloud will be an instant-on browser-based operating environment to allow the mobile user to get up and running instantly without running full Windows.  Cloud will be installed alongside Windows allowing users to boot Windows from the Cloud interface when needed.  Cloud provides a browser and access to core web applications such as the Google suite of apps, Skype, YouTube and the rest of the web world.  It can be installed in firmware for true instant booting a la SplashTop or on a disk or SSD drive.  Good OS is also announcing a deal to put Cloud on touch-screen netbooks from GIGABYTE.  Press release after the jump and further information can be found at the Cloud site.  Notice from this image how the browser looks a lot like Google Chrome?

Arrington: Mobile tech is very personal

We have covered all facets of mobile technology for years and the one undying fact, perhaps the only one, is that the more mobile the tech the more personal it is.  Devices and computers that are meant to be highly portable will have strengths and compromises to achieve that high degree of mobility.  These strengths and weaknesses are often the factors that determine if a given device is appropriate for a given user.  One man's bane is another's killer feature, something determined by each user's needs.

Whenever we see an innovative new device or genre of devices I get a kick out of watching the reactions.  There never fails to be a contingent of folks who find that the new gadget is the greatest thing since sliced bread.  They shout from the mountaintops how great the new device is and what it means to fulfilling their mobile computing needs.  Of course there is another group of vocal folks, often the media, who jump in to decry the adoration by explaining to us all how great the short-comings of said device really are and how that other group doesn't get it.

Such a discussion is getting a lot of attention recently as some prominent folks are taking pains to point out that netbooks, those little cheap laptops, are not the great mobile solution that apparently many think they are.  All you have to look at are sales numbers and forecasts which are so big that they caught the entire industry napping to understand how big a deal netbooks have become.  No matter what these pundits say the only opinion about a device or in this case a class of device that matters is that of the consumer.  And there is no question they have a pretty good opinion of a small laptop that only costs a few hundred dollars.

New South Wales to provide 197,000 students with netbooks

Small notebook computers are no question perfect for students to use at school.  The small and light form makes it easy to backpack around the school and as long as the notebook has fairly standard components it is more than sufficient to meet the needs of those students.  The officials in the Australian state New South Wales agrees with that assessment and have announced that 197,000 public school students will get what sounds like netbooks this year.

"These custom-made laptops are about three-quarters the size of a regular laptop - compact enough to fit into a schoolbag or a locker but powerful enough to support all the IT needs of our high school students.

"We can deliver the digital revolution by putting wireless networks in every public secondary school and buying a laptop for all the 197,000 students in years 9 to 12."

They go on to indicate that students will get to keep the "small notebooks" when they leave school.  This is a very ambitious program and the largest of this type we've heard of so far.  Kudos to the Aussies for putting their money where their students are.  There was no word given which company is supplying the laptops.

(Sydney Morning Herald via Gordon Cahill)

New MacBook is worth consideration based on performance alone

Two days ago, I took advantage of the special "Black Friday" pricing at Best Buy and nabbed a new 2.4GHz MacBook with 2GB of RAM for $150 off the list $1,599 price. I'm certainly glad I got the price discount and didn't have to battle the crowds later this week to get it. My first impression: it's always good to save money, but I think I would have been happy with this notebook at full price. Seriously... let me share just a few first thoughts so you understand where I'm coming from.

Text a lockdown message to your stolen ThinkPad

You've just found yourself starring in your own personal horror story.  Your laptop has been stolen while you are in the middle of a business trip and all you can think about is the sensitive data that is now in the hands of a not very nice person.  What's a responsible person to do?  Then you remember your laptop is a ThinkPad and you breathe a sigh of relief, pull out your cell phone and send your stolen ThinkPad a text message which forces it to become unusable.  All is saved due to Lenovo's Remote Disable technology that uses firmware made by Phoenix to lock down a computer remotely via text message.  Now that's peace of mind.  Press release after the jump.

(via engadget)