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Posts Tagged ‘netbooks’

Transmission from CES: What’s Up With Netbooks?

With 2010, we see netbooks take a few different paths toward maintaining their dominance of the portable computing market.

More Portable

Battery life is always a concern for those users that are always on the go, and netbook manufacturers are looking to help out with devices built from the ground up to use as little power as possible and wring out as much as 11 to 14 hours of run time from a single charge. Less time connected to a wall outlet means less time stuck in one place.

The other portability development we’re seeing is even thinner netbooks, designed to be slim enough that keeping one with you at all times becomes a serious possibility.

More Performance

For some netbook users, it’s entirely acceptable to sacrifice some portability and battery life in exchange for more powerful, on-the-go, netbook performance. More powerful processors, with multiple cores, are being combined with improved video cards to make it possible to play hi-definition videos with fewer issues, or even take in some (still light) 3D gaming.

While not every netbook user needs a more powerful netbook, these beefed up devices will help make more processor-orientated tasks, such as quick edits of SD video, something of a possibility for when you absolutely need to get them done on the go.

More Choice

The wealth of different options becoming available will really help the product category become more mature, and help bring about more choices to fit the specific needs that potential buyers need for their highly portable digital life.

Geek Squad Agents Become Free WiFi Hotspots this Holiday Season

With WiFi hotspots popping up in all kinds of places, Geek Squad returned to the lab for a “next-gen” holiday gift. Now “Secret Agent Santas” will take WiFi technology to the next level, releasing WiFi hotspots from the electrical outlet through the use of high-speed USB modems and battery-powered routers.

Beginning today, select Agents in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco will become “Secret Agent Santas,” providing free Internet access wherever they are. “Secret Agent Santas” will help people stay connected on the final leg of this holiday season on trains, in parks and at a multitude of other locations. WiFi’d Agents will be easily recognizable by their non-uniform holiday headgear – a light-up red and white Santa hat with LEDs around the brim.

Civilians are encouraged to take advantage of the free internet service and speak with the Agents about any technology problems or questions they might have. Select Geekmobile® vehicles in Atlanta and San Francisco also will be set up to provide service.

“Free WiFi has made staying connected easier and increased the usefulness of laptops, smartphones and other hand-held devices,” said Geek Squad Agent Ismael Matos. “By creating these roving hotspots, we’re providing an even greater level of service. Need WiFi on an ‘L’ train in Chicago? We can help. Want us to park six Geekmobiles at an Atlanta football game so you can tailgate and stay connected? We can do that too.

“To serve the greatest number of people, these hotspots will not be password protected,” continued Matos. “We recommend that civilians not conduct any particularly sensitive work as a result. Check sports scores but not bank accounts.”

WiFi’d Agents are a gift that keeps on giving; rolling out this holiday season, the service will continue indefinitely. Keep an eye out for specially marked Geek Squad Agents and open hotspots named “Geek Squad.” And if you have any WiFi location requests, please visit Geek Squad Intelligence (http://www.geeksquad.com/intelligence/) and leave us a comment.

Back to School: Netbook or Laptop?

Thanks to the explosion of cheap netbook computers, one of the more common questions we’re seeing is “Netbook or Laptop, which should I get?”

When a Netbook Might Not Be Enough After All… at least, for me

January is my favorite month of the year. Why? Because I get to calculate how much my tax refund is going to be and dream of all the new tech gadgets I can blow it on.

For the past few months, I have had my eyes on only one thing: a new laptop. I admit, I am one of those people that see the new netbooks and immediately contemplate ditching my huge laptop. Size alone is compelling enough for me.

Geek Squad 2MM: Getting the Most Out Of Your Laptop Battery

With the proliferation of netbooks over the last year, more and more consumers are carrying portable computers with them. While technology has gotten more portable (and affordable), battery life still, unfortunately, remains an issue. In this Two Minute Miracles video, Geek Squad Agents Ish Matos and Nicole Conway will provide some quick tips for getting more juice out of your laptop battery.

Wireless Networking Basics

In this “Two Minute Miracle” video, Agent Hymans shows you the basics of a wireless network including the necessary parts and types of wireless networks.