reg

Silent / Quiet Computers: Sound levels in decibels

Desktops and Laptops submitted by pchris 02/17/07 **REVIEWED**

I'd like Dell to provide the sound level in decibels for each of their desktops, under max load as well as at idle.

How a manufacturer can produce an expensive computer, and then have the user acoustic experience of that computer dominated by the noise generated by a cheap fan worth just pennies, for the entire lifetime of that computer, is incomprehensible. Computers are noisy when brand new, but those cheap fans begin to rub and oscillate and make additional annoying noises, frequently within a short period of time of purchase.

Personally, the peace and quiet of my personal workspace is very important to me, it's my sanctuary from the world where I can focus and be creative. To have that experience disrupted by cheap fans is sad, especially when slightly more expensive fans and some reasonable design would solve the issue. Another reason why I consider buying an Apple.

If the cost of a better sound design and fans is significant, it could be an extra cost option.
In general, Dell provides noise data of its products in the Environmental Datasheets. Tests are conducted according to ISO standards in a NVLAP accredited acoustics facility. Click here for more details




152 Comments »

Make a Flash Drive Laptop with *LONG* Battery Life ! ! !

Laptop Power submitted by reg 02/26/07

Make a 12.1 Inch Flash Drive Laptop for $599.

No Hard Drive, No CD Drive - put them in the base station / docking station.

The 12 inch laptop will have 2 internal USB 2.0 connectors, so you could plug in two standard USB 2.0 High Speed Flash Memory Sticks. (a double slot so the mem-sticks don't stick out of the case.)

Comes standard with one 8 GB memory stick with
Puppy Linux Pre-Installed .

Puppy Linux is FAST! Runs Completely in RAM.

Have 4 more USB 2.0 connectors, widely spaced along the left hand side of the laptop - hook up 4 more flash drives, or printers/scanners/cameras -etc. any four USB 2.0 high speed devices.

Tech Specs:
12.1" 32 bit color LCD Screen, ULV CPU at 2.0 GHz.
1 GB RAM standard, 2nd GB slot available for max of 2GB.
6 USB 2.0 High Speed connectors (4 external, 2 internal)
Built in graphics & Video accelerator hardware.
All Graphics, Audio, Video Linux drivers included.
1 PCMCIA slot (for CF cards, microdrives, etc)
1 Express Card slot t (for newer, faster PC cards)
White LED light on screen lid that illuminates the keyboard (like IBM thinkpads)
HDMI, VGA output, Component Video Input + Stereo Audio input.
Stereo Microphones mounted in the coners of the screen lid.
Rotating XGA Camera for video and pictures.
Audio headphone jack on front AND on back.
Docking station expansion port connector.
14 Hour Battery Life.
(Remember - no hard drive, no CD drive in laptop, and using ultra low voltage CPU with no fan running when idling...)
WiFi Wireless Networking.

Configure Puppy Linux with popular software, such as GIMP and Open Office and have it pre-installed with
all the hardware drivers on the 1st USB flash drive. Puppy Linux already comes with all these Applications .

Along with the Ultra Life Notebook, offer a base - docking station,
with configurations of Hard Drive (160 GB up to 1 TB) and
CD Drive (DVD, or Dual Layer DVD burner), and port replication.
(4 USB 2.0 High Speed Hub, Bluetooth KB/Mouse support)

SAMSUNG has a Flash Laptop,
it is time Dell caught up with the Marketplace. 3 Comments »

Dell partners with The Air Car

Dell, Environment, Laptop Power submitted by reg 03/26/07

The Air Car runs on Compressed Air. It is the only car with NEGATIVE EMISSIONS RATINGS! Air is Cleaner coming out of it than going into it!

The Air compressor filters air as it goes into the car, and the car filters the air as it goes out. The Air car acts as a transportable atmospheric scrubber system.

Click the Air Car to see other models.

Dimensions: 3.84m, 1.72m, 1.75m
Weight: 750 kg
Maximum speed: 110 kmh
Mileage: 200 - 300 km
Max load: 500 Kg
Recharge time: 4 hours (Mains connector)
Recharge time: 3 minutes (Air station)

No Combustion, no pollution, no heavy electric battery, no heavy metals, no toxic leaks. It use just compressed AIR. Travel for only a few cents, instead of more than $2.00 a gallon of gas.

Burning gasoline is expressed as exploding expanding gases. Why use liquids at all, when AIR is so much cleaner, easy to store, and actually helps the environment?

HOW IT WORKS: The Air Car. 20 Comments »

Time lapse between posts

IdeaStorm submitted by sangelnet 03/27/07

Best practice, would be a time lapse between post so that some people we've seen, would have to wait longer for their next post.

Avoid the flooding. 3 Comments »

Pass New Law: Abandonware becomes Public Source after 5 Years.

Dell, Software submitted by reg 03/31/07

Windows 3.1 - Long gone in the history of Computing
Windows NT - No longer supported.
Mac OS 1 through 8 - not supported in any way, shape or form.

PASS THE LAW

Abandoned Software becomes Open Source after 5 years of discontinuance.

This opens software up for the world to still use.
Not the latest and greatest, mind you -
just yesterday's lukewarm leftovers.

Companies such as Microsoft can write their latest code,
but can not slaughter millions of machines in a single blow.

When any company stops supporting their packages, as previously supported,
the home government gets the final draft source code, made publicly available,
5 years later.

1. Old software programs can be maintained and salvaged.
2. Five Year buffer is an eternity in 'Computer Time' - protecting new software developers profits.
3. YOU can't get help anymore for Windows NT, but you can get the whole package and source code free. Use it as you wish.
4. PREVENT CORPORATE ABUSE. Such as the Total Windows XP shutdown, and forced death march into the Windows Vista camp.
5. Preserve Cultural Heritage. Data formats and information face total loss, in 20 years, could you open a Word 97 document? Most likely not. For the first time in human culture - the collective works of millions of people faces complete erasure. This is Wrong, and must be stopped.

<font> <u>The Digital Culture Preservation Act</u>

All Abandoned software and software platforms older than 5 years from the date of 'discontinuance' becomes public domain.
If original software developers still exist, they must provide Source Code to the Library of Congress.
The Source Code is treated as a book,
and put on-line as a digital publication. (ASCII Text File)
Along with downloadable working copies of the compiled program.
If the original software developers do not exist,
citizens may submit software to the Library of Congress using
an on-line form and upload service.
Old emulator programs are to be added to the Library too.
Then software can be preserved for computer platforms no longer in production.
(Apple, Atari, Commodore, IBM, Sinclair, and dozens more . . . )</font>

<font> SAVE OUR DIGITAL WORLD.
PASS THE LAW. </font> 8 Comments »