Getting to know the new MacBooks

With all the hysteria surrounding Apple’s new iPhone 4, it’s a good time to look back at the new MacBooks which released in April.  These devices offer many new features to users, and revamp a couple of old ones.  Here’s the breakdown:

• Faster processing speed coupled with longer life
• Sizes ranging from 13-17 inches, with Core i5 processing chips in the two largest models
• Also in the 15- and 17- inch models, new technology which switches between graphics chips: an energy-efficient one for web surfing and e-mail and a high-performance one for video editing or games
• Snow Leopard OS
• “Inertial scrolling” on the trackpad, allowing users to move easily through large documents and libraries Read more »

Death of the mouse (and the keyboard, and monitor…)?

Hardware developers have created several alternatives which may soon make the standard means of computer input obsolete.  The release of a controller-free video game system in November could turn some of these ideas into reality, and make those options already existing even more popular.

The system is Microsoft’s Kinect, a system which relies on cameras to read body movements.  This allows players to kick soccer balls, tickle tigers, and more.  There is also voice functionality, so that saying the words “play movie” will start whichever film the player has chosen. Read more »