Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Friday, October 24, 2008

MSI Wind Scores 30% Performance Boost in Free Update [NetBooks]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/430960444/msi-wind-scores-30-performance-boost-in-free-update

Overclocking is nothing new, but rarely is it promoted by a PC manufacturer, let alone in a netbook. But MSI has released the v1.09 BIOS update for their Wind mini-notebook that allows users to function key toggle an 8%, 15% or 24% automatic overclock that can translate to a 30% performance boost (as independently tested). You'll notice the extra power in apps like Photoshop especially, but keep in mind that it probably won't do wonders for the battery life. All in all, however, it sounds like an absolute must-have update. [Electric Vagabond]

Dealzmodo: $50 Off Oprah's Favorite Gadget, Amazon Kindle [Dealzmodo]

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/431176266/dealzmodo-50-off-oprahs-favorite-gadget-amazon-kindle

Officially becoming Oprah's favorite gadget will no doubt do wonders for Amazon Kindle sales. You know what else will? Knocking $50 off the price for her viewers. It's okay, you don't actually have to watch Oprah. Through Nov. 1, enter the discount code OPRAHWINFREY (no really) to slap $50 off the price at checkout. No one ever has to know. [Oprah via ZDNet]

BMW asks other automakers to collaborate on in-car open source platform

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/430528260/

Filed under: Transportation

In March of last year, we heard that Toyota had a mind to create its very own in-car operating system to "boost efficiency and speed up development." Now, it's bruited that BMW is asking any automaker who will listen to join hands in order to jointly develop an open source in-vehicle platform. The company has stated that it plans on having an open source system in a vehicle that sells 200,000 or more units within the next five to seven years, and while employees from rivals were on hand when the proclamation was made, no one was rushing to call dibs on first. Still, it sounds as if BMW will be forging ahead with or without any assistance, though bigwig Gunter Reichart did assert that BMW was "inviting other OEMs to join it [and] to exchange with it." In an apparent attempt at providing comic relief, Jim Buczkowski (Ford's director of global electrical and electronics systems engineering) stated that through its partnership with Microsoft, it already had 280,000 vehicles on the road with an open system. Hmm, clearly our definitions of "open" are somewhat incongruent.

[Via Motor Authority, thanks Laminaatplaat]

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Confirmed: Kids like Sugar better than XP

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/430651671/

Filed under: Laptops

It's hardly a scientific test, but when a Cnet editor's 8 year old daughter was given the choice between an OLPC XO laptop running Windows XP or the Linux-based Sugar UI, Sugar was the winner. As Cnet points out, either OS when properly incorporated into the teaching curriculum should serve the children of developing nations equally well. Only one, however, promises to prepare our youth for middle management.

P.S. Amazon's Give One, Get One program will be limited to Linux according to Cnet and confirmed in the OLPC Wiki -- no dual-boot for you Santa.

[Thanks, Justin G.]

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Electric Motorsport's GPR-S e-motorcycle available now for $8,000

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/430755437/

Filed under: Transportation

When we spotted Electric Motorsport last year the company was pushing a high-ish performance electric motorcycle prototype, with a top speed of 100 MPH, 100 mile range, a $15,000 pricetag, and a whole bunch ugly battery strapped underneath. Lucky for us, they've taken a very mass-market approach to their next bike, the GPR-S. Boasting a 60-70 MPH top speed and 35-60 mile range, the sleek little bike just might be the perfect commuter ride, and the $8,000 pricetag is much more palatable. The bike can charge in about four hours, or 1.5 hours with an optional speed charger. Even better, the bike is modular in nature, which means you'll be able to swap in a better power system once one comes along with a minimum of hassle. Electric Motorsport has sold 25 of these so far, but they're up and running and ready for sales at volume -- which is surprisingly still an incredibly rare feat in the electric transportation industry, even in 2008.

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