computers

Rare Early Apple-1 Up For Auction

Long before the iPod, the iPad and the iPhone, Apple was just a few circuit boards and a dream. In July 1976, the Apple-1 went on sale priced at $666.66-- no sexy design, no white minimalist style, just pure geekery in a simple cardboard box. On November 23 Christie's London is auctioning off an early Apple-1 and all its original packaging in a lot estimated to fetch as much as £150,000. Part of the reason for the high price is that just a few examples of the computer survive today.

The one being sold at Christie's includes an Apple-1 motherboard, number 82, printed label to reverse, with a few slightly later additions including a 6502 microprocessor, labeled R6502P R6502-11 8145, printed circuit board with 4 rows A-D and columns 1-18, three capacitors, heatsink, cassette board connector, 8K bytes of RAM, keyboard interface, firmware in PROMS, low-profile sockets on all integrated circuits, video terminal, breadboard area with slightly later connector, with later soldering, wires and electrical tape to reverse, printed to obverse Apple Computer 1 Palo Alto. Ca. The 8K memory is just a tiny fraction of what even the smallest iPod is capable of; it could not even hold one song. There were just 200 of these made and the computer did not come with a monitor or keyboard. It did however have a typed and signed letter from Steve Jobs. Depending on how well this one sells you could find a lot of people digging into their attics and garages looking for old computers.

Tags: apple, apple-1, christies, computers, early computers, steve jobs

50th Anniversary Fujitsu ScanSnap Scanners

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Document scanning is not usually a glamorous activity and the equipment, no matter how high-end, is usually a bit of an eyesore but Fujitsu's newly decked out scanners are downright attractive. Two of Fujitsu's most popular ScanSnap models, the S1500 and S1300, have been given special limited-edition upgrades in honor of the 50th anniversary of PFU Imaging Solutions Europe. The scanners feature an Urushi lacquer coating applied using an ancient Japanese layering technique and a logo and special flying eagle image created out of pure gold powder. The scanners can be purchased via special order directly from Fujitsu for $3,200 (model S1500) or $2,200 (model S1300).

Via boingboing

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Tags: computers, fujitsu, scanners, scanning documents, scansnap

Gorgeous Gresso Flash Drives

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

The African Wood Pandora USB Flash Drive

Don't you wish that using your flash drive could be a classier aesthetic experience? I know the purpose of a flash drive is functionality, but as design experts all over the world know, absolutely anything can be made beautiful and more enjoyable to use.

Enter the Gresso with gorgeous flash drives, such as the above from the new Pandora Flash Drive Collection ($999.00 each). The example you see is made from African Red wood and silver. It's more than just a pretty face, too; the Pandora is the first luxury USB device to be equipped with a fingerprint scanning detector. That's not an LED sparkle you see there, though. That's a ruby.

Click through the gallery to see and read about more good-lookin' flash drive options from Gresso -- with memory capacities of up to 192 Gb!

Gallery: Gresso Flash Drives

Tags: computers, flash, flash drive, gadgets, gresso, memory, tools, USB, USB drive

Hotels Getting Rid Of In-Room Phone Books

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Last year I wrote out about hotels getting rid of the Bible, now it looks like some are ditching another standard hotel item, the phone book. Omni Hotels has announced that they will eliminate phone books, recycling their current stock of 30,000 phone books will be recycled. The hotel chain found that no one uses the phone books and they just take up drawer space. USA Today also notes that Hyatt hotels, Hyatt Place, Kimpton hotels and several chains operated by Starwood Hotels, Westin, Sheraton, Aloft and Element, have also stopped having phone books in the rooms and instead offer them by request at the front desk.

These days travelers are more likely to look up what they need on a laptop or smartphone. Unfortunately Omni only offers free WiFi in the rooms for its loyalty program members, guests who aren't loyalty program members still have to pay $9.95 per day. I think it's fine if hotels get rid of phone books, I just wish they'd give us free WiFi instead.

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Tags: computers, hotels, phone books, wifi

Sony Launches the NW-E010 Series MP3 Players with Swarovski Crystals

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

These are just darling, don't you think? They're the latest stick type mp3 players/USB drives from Sony. Available in a beautiful mix of pastel colors (blue, gold, pink, and violet) and black (classy), the cap is covered with a design in Swarovski crystals. Sony has announced that the 'NW-E010 series' will be available by the end of next month in the Japanese market (they get everything first it seems!) and no word on when they might make an appearance here in the U.S. Pricing is expected to be around 18,800 yen for the 2GB versions and 24,800 yen for 4GB.

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Tags: computer, computers, crystal, crystals, gadget, gadgets, japan, japanese, mp3, mp3 player, mp3 players, Mp3Player, Mp3Players, music, sony, swarovski, swarovski crystal, swarovski crystals, SwarovskiCrystal, SwarovskiCrystals, tunes, usb

Calder Laptop Cases

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

Very simple in design, Calder laptop cases are understated and classic inside and out. Crafted with full-grain leather made by one of England's oldest tanners, the cases also have a hand-laid carbon fiber shell that's amazingly strong while not being too heavy. A silk velvet lining and suspension system protect your laptop from damage in your travels, and the whole setup reminds very much of an instrument case as opposed to a shoulder or tote bag (which is no surprise considering they make guitar and violin cases as well). Available for £2020 through the Bill Amberg store.

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Tags: calder, calder original, calder originals, CalderOriginal, CalderOriginals, case, cases, computer, computers, guitar, guitars, instruments, laptop, leather, violin, violins

Luvaglio's Million Dollar Laptop

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Information and details are sketchy, but Luvaglio is apparently planning to unveil its latest luxury gadget -- a $1 million dollar laptop -- sometime in the near future. So what does that much money get you in the world of portable computers? There seems to be an intentional feeling of mystery surrounding the whole thing, with limited pictures released and an invitation only website. But rumor has it there's a glossy black piano finish on the outside, a self-cleaning screen, a Blu-ray drive, and a diamond-encrusted (of course) power button.

For a million dollars I hope the rumor-mill missed some major features, or else that better be one big power button.

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Tags: Blu Ray, blu-ray, Blue Ray, BlueRay, BluRay, computer, computers, lap top, laptop, luvaglio, million, pc

Suissa Computers

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets

Suissa Computers builds computers that challenge the idea of what a computer is supposed to look like. Instead of using a metal or plastic for the case, they use woods. The company says that the computers are meant to become heirloom pieces, and their staff is always ready to prepare and install any technological upgrades, according to your needs, and perform maintenance and restoration, if necessary. Think of the difference in appearance between Suissa Computers and standard computers to be the difference between the corner office and a cubicle: each might function well, but you definitely can't beat the view. Prices vary, but the Yasuko model pictured comes in five different wood combinations and costs about $6,900.

[via boing boing]

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Tags: computer, computers, executive, luxury, suissa, wood

Wine Creation Via Computer

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Wine

Would you trust the business of tasting wine to a computer? CNN has an article on how computer models may may help identify good wine and help winemakers create better vintages. Lorenz Biegler, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University has been working with industry scientists in Chile to create mathematical formulas that could automate the fermentation process. By figuring out how the yeast cell behaves they can determine how to replicate the process.The goal is to make winemaking more efficient and of course profitable. So far the research has been on white wines only. Reds are more complex and therefore difficult to analyze. Similar computerized systems are used at chemical plants, oil refineries and pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities but winemaking has always been seen as more of an art of craft than a science. It doesn't seem like a computer is going to take the place of a master vinter anytime soon but technology may have a greater role in winemaking in the future.

[via Slashdot]

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Tags: chile, computers, grapes, red wine, science, white wine, wine, winemaking

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