COMPUTERS AND NETWORKING
BUTTERFLIES ARE
NOT FREE
You know things are slow in the PC business when
the most newsworthy item is
based on a fashion statement,
but here it is. Back in
March, Hewlett Packard and
"world-renowned" designer
Vivienne Tam (who?) brought
forth the concept of "digital
clutch chic" in the form of an
HP Mini 210 netbook
incorporating Tam's "Butterfly
Lovers" design motif. Said Tam,
"To me, butterflies symbolize
love, freedom, independence,
and transformation. Together
we bring life, color, and
personality to the computer
world, creating fashionable
technology for modern
women."
Billed as the next must-have
accessory, the unit includes a
built-in webcam that turns it
into an instant digital mirror,
■ Designer version of HP’s Mini 210 netbook.
allowing the user to discreetly
admire her botox or wipe
caviar off her chin. It
Vincorporates a special
butterfly start menu, custom
Tam icons, and three wallpapers
that coordinate with the
design. In addition, it comes
with a matching microfiber
(i.e., fake) suede sleeve and
(optionally) a Butterfly Lovers
wireless mouse and a set of
in-ear headphones to take
advantage of the Beats Audio
feature. "Fashion-forward
women around the globe can
reserve theirs now at
www.hp.com/viviennetam."
Note, however, that the Tam
Edition netbook starts at
$599 ($804.98 with the
recommended options), as
opposed to the $279 list on the
standard model. You can always
get really nice butterfly decals
for a buck or two at your local
Walmart instead. ▲
ALL-IN-ONE FOR
HOME OFFICE
Kodak's latest offering for the
home office
market is the ESP
Office 6150 all-in-one printer, with
"all" meaning inkjet
printing, copying,
scanning, and fax
capabilities in one
unit. The 6150
continues Kodak's
marketing focus on the price of its ink cartridge which it says
is the lowest in the industry. The company claims that its
products save consumers an average of $110 per year on ink
based on as few as four pages per day. In addition to the
basic four functions, the 6150 offers Wi-Fi and Ethernet
connectivity with a range of devices, including Blackberry
smart phones, iPhones, and the iPod Touch. You get print
rates of up to 32/30 ppm and copy rates of 27/26 cpm
(black/color), a 200-page paper tray, two-sided printing, and
scan resolution up to 1,200 dpi. Faxing is done at 33. 6 kbps,
and the machine includes a 30-page document feeder. The
list price is $229. ▲
■ Kodak’s ESP Office 6150 offers printing,
faxing, copying, and scanning in one unit.
INDUSTRY AND
THE PROFESSION
WIND FARM ANNIVERSARY
Wind farms still seem a bit futuristic but, in fact, 2010 marks the 30th anniversary of the
world's first installation. It was created by US
Windpower and employed 20 turbines rated at 30
k W each, perched atop New Hampshire's Crotched
Mountain. Unfortunately, the company underestimated
how much wind would be available, and the turbines
experienced repeated mechanical failure, so the
Crotched Mountain facility itself was a failure. The
company later changed its name to Kenetech,
improved its designs, and built some wind farms in
California. At one point, it was the world's number
one turbine manufacturer and wind farm developer.
However, continuing design problems, overly
optimistic development plans, and a weak market
eventually contributed to its downfall, and it filed
for bankruptcy in 1996. Enron Wind acquired its
turbine designs and other assets, which in 2002
finally were bought by GE for about $358 million in
a court-supervised bankruptcy auction. ▲
May 2010 11
